Aurore joined GPP in February 2024 as Government Relations Advisor. In this role she engages with donor governments, providing them with the resources and tools necessary to increase the amount and quality of their global LGBTI funding provided through development assistance programming. Aurore also plays a leading role in GPP’s research on donor government funding policies and practices.

Before joining GPP, Aurore was Head of Policy for Oxfam Belgium, leading the advocacy work of the organization on a number of themes from inequalities and public budgets to climate and food systems, all with a gender justice lens. She previously worked as Advocacy Advisor for the International Planned Parenthood Federation European Network, advocating for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) within EU’s cooperation policies, and as Researcher for the International Centre for Reproductive Health on maternal, migrant and sex workers’ health. A proud feminist and bisexual activist, Aurore is part of the Brussels-based collective ‘Where we belong’ to make lesBIan literature and culture known through public readings and is a volunteer for BruZelle, an organization fighting period poverty.

She holds a Masters in Political Science from Sciences Po Paris, with a specialisation in European Affairs.

Ari joined the Global Philanthropy Project in August 2024 as Operations Manager. They ensure that GPP’s procedures, finances, and operations are organized for the successful and smooth running of the organization.

Ari’s activism began at age 16 as a Bosnian refugee in Canada, where they founded and coordinated a group for LGBTIQ high school students and allies. They were a co-founder and leader at kolekTIRV in Croatia and Trans Network Balkan, involved in community organizing, advocacy, program management, team coordination, capacity building, education, media work, campaigns, writing, research, event organization, finances, operations, and fundraising.

Beyond the Balkan region, Ari served as a Board member at Transgender Europe (TGEU), where they held roles as Secretary, Treasurer, and later Co-chair. They have also been a trainer with the Center for Artistic Activism and served on the Advisory Committee and as a Community Care Facilitator at FRIDA — The Young Feminist Fund.

Outside of activism, Ari has taught at elementary and high schools, as well as universities. They hold a Master’s degree in Mathematics and Computer Science from the University of Zagreb and a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics Education from the University of Bihać.

Lilian Ajuang Karanja is the Global Resources Report Coding Assistant at GPP, having joined the team in April 2025. In this exciting role, she plays a crucial part in the development of the Global Resources Report, a biennial publication that meticulously tracks government and philanthropic support for LGBTI communities worldwide. As part of a dedicated team, Lilian analyzes and codes over 10,000 individual grants, ensuring that the data meets the project’s rigorous specifications.

Lilian also serves as a Data and Systems Administrator at UHAI-East African Sexual Health and Rights Initiative, where she maintains and analyses grants data to inform strategic grant-making. Before GPP, she worked as a Consultant for the Funders Initiative for Civil Society, connecting LGBTIQ+ activists within East Africa and facilitating learning sessions, research and convenings focused on narrative change work.

Lilian holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree with a Finance major from the University of Nairobi and is a Certified Public Accountant. She has exceptional analytical skills and expertise in program development and movement building.

Emilia is the Program Associate, Events and Member Engagement at the Global Philanthropy Project starting in November 2023. In her role, she coordinates member communications, manages meetings and webinars, and handles communication to members and external audiences through various channels.

Previously, she worked for about 4 years in different LGBTI rights and women’s rights organisations both as a communications officer and project manager,including ILGA World and Fondo Lunaria.

Emilia has a strong background in research and advocacy, particularly in trans rights, countering the anti-gender movement, and addressing violence against women. Emilia holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism from Rosario University, in Bogota, Colombia, where she is from, and an Erasmus Master’s in Human Rights Policy and Practice from a consortium of universities, including the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.

Ezra Berkley Nepon is the Deputy Director of Global Philanthropy Project and the primary author of the Global Resources Report. Ezra joined the GPP staff in 2015, having previously served as Director of Grassroots Fundraising for Sylvia Rivera Law Project and the Development Coordinator for William Way LGBT Community Center, and co-authored reports including “Who Decides: How Participatory Grantmaking Benefits Donors, Communities, and Movements” with The Lafayette Practice. Ezra is the author of two books – most recently Dazzle Camouflage: Spectacular Theatrical Strategies for Resistance. Ezra received an M.A. Degree from Goddard College in Transformative Language Arts.

Dave Scamell is GPP’s Director of Government Relations and Field Engagement, and has been working with GPP since 2018. Dave oversees GPP’s engagement with the world’s leading government and multilateral donors, providing them with the resources and tools necessary to increase the amount and quality of their global LGBTI funding provided through development assistance programming. He also plays a leading role in GPP’s work identifying and highlighting key issues impacting the global LGBTI funding landscape and providing donor governments, philanthropic foundations and civil society with the evidence needed to address such issues.

Dave has more than 20 years’ experience in human rights and public health advocacy, policy, programming and philanthropy, having worked with civil society organizations to advance the rights of marginalized communities in 27 countries across the world. He has held management and strategic leadership roles in leading non-government organizations, private foundations, and global networks in New York and Sydney, with strong experience and a passion for working with multiple stakeholders—advocates, service providers, donors, policymakers, thought-leaders—to achieve impactful social change. Dave holds a Master in International Human Rights Law (with honors) from the University of Essex and a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts (Politics and International Relations) from the University of New South Wales.

Marla joined GPP as Director of Development and Advancement in April 2024, where she oversees the development and implementation of fundraising plans, manages the overall grant portfolio (including grant proposals and reporting), and participates in organizational strategic development.

With over 2 decades of experience working in both global and U.S.-based human rights and social justice contexts, Marla brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the position, including a 12 year tenure in the global philanthropic sector at Open Society Foundations where she led global gender justice grantmaking portfolios and programs with a regional focus on the Middle East and Europe. More recently as an institutional development consultant, she has worked with aligned human rights, LGBTQI, and feminist organizations to effectively build organizational resource mobilization strategies and funding partnerships. 

Marla holds a Master’s in International Policy Studies with certificates in Public Administration and Gender and Development from Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. Previous to this, she taught English in Moldova and served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Central Asia, experiences that instilled in her a deep sense of empathy, cross-cultural understanding, and a commitment to serving others.

Lingga joined GPP in April 2025 as the Global Resource Report (GRR) Coding Assistant. In this role, he is part of the GRR 2023–2024 team, where he contributes to the analysis and coding of global grant data supporting LGBTI movements. Prior to joining GPP, Lingga worked with a consulting firm in the Netherlands, where he led and contributed to multi-country evaluations, including projects supporting LGBTI communities. His previous roles also include positions with Hivos Southeast Asia and the Indonesian Planned Parenthood Association (PKBI), where he focused on sexual and reproductive health, gender, and LGBTI advocacy through research, training, and community engagement. Lingga has authored publications and delivered guest lectures on topics including LGBTI rights, mental health, and sexual rights. He holds a Master of Science in Public Health from KIT Amsterdam, with a thesis focused on mental health issues among LGBTI people in Indonesia.