Meet AFF Board Member Sam Downes
Tell us a little about yourself.
My name is Sam, and I’m an engineer based in Brookline, Massachusetts. I’ve worked in the public and private sectors since getting my master’s degree in civil and environmental engineering in 2019. While I’m licensed in environmental engineering, which deals with areas such as drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater, my current role is more transportation-focused, involving roadway design, safety improvements for pedestrians and bicyclists, and infrastructure projects.
Tell us about your journey into philanthropy.
I’m a member of the Andrus family, and I’ve been actively involved in AFF for around 17 years. Over the years, I’ve been a part of various AFF programs, which I consider a significant part of my identity outside of work. It started when I was 12 years old with the Andrus Youth Service Program and progressed to the Board Experiential Training (BETs) program, which serves as the last learning step prior to potential board service. I was involved in the AFPP (Andrus Family Philanthropy Programming) working group, where we created BETs 2.0, an extension focused on learning about board service, power imbalances, grantee-grantor relationships, and what it truly means to serve on a board in the current landscape of racial and social justice.
What made you want to join the AFF board?
After participating in the BETs programs, the AFF board provided an opportunity to further my learning and the group’s impact. The group is incredible. It is such a joy to spend weekends together because of the inspiring people and the meaningful work we’re doing.
Tell us a bit about your experience on the board so far.
The most powerful experience so far was our trip to Montgomery. The entire weekend was full of individual moments that captured how we, as a board and as a society, need to find ourselves in uncomfortable spaces to foster learning and growth, reflecting on what we should do moving forward.
Visiting the Legacy Museum and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, which includes the names of lynching victims by county and date, was troubling and impactful. Seeing how recently these events occurred was a reminder of much work is left to be done as a society. The group reflections provided context and conversation that will be important to integrate into how we approach our work as a Board.
AFF’s focus now centers around abolition. Have you always considered yourself to be an abolitionist? If not, when and how did that evolution happen?
Abolition means different things to different people, and I’m still figuring out what it means to me. The most important aspect of our work is providing community resources and engagement, understanding what communities need rather than dictating solutions. Just as forcing a culvert to reroute water often proves ineffective, I’ve learned that funders and outside actors must avoid abruptly changing communities’ “flow.” Instead, we need to listen and provide support based on their identified needs and experiences.
I’m still actively learning and trying to understand AFF’s role in abolition, particularly within the foster care system and youth incarceration. It’s been essential to hear about the systemic failures and oppression of people of color within these systems and how a more community-based framework could better address families’ and children’s actual needs.
What are your goals and hopes for your time on the AFF board?
My primary goal is to never stop learning and growing, especially in uncomfortable spaces. I want to continue improving my ability to bring diverse perspectives into these difficult conversations. Even when I’ve pushed myself, I aim to ask more questions and absorb as much information as possible by attending conferences and seeking learning opportunities.
For the board, I hope we continue challenging each other, even as our friendships and community deepen. While our diverse perspectives can lead to disagreements on issues like abolition, reproductive rights, or specific nonprofits, that diversity is valuable. As new members join every two years, there will always be new conversations to be had. I appreciate that we don’t agree on everything – it allows us to better understand each other’s viewpoints.
What advice would you give future board members, especially those not part of the Andrus family?
Please join us! While I love my family, I’ve learned so much more from the community board members and their lived experiences, insights from serving on other foundations, and the change and impact they are leading. Hearing them discuss their work and passion motivates me. Their perspectives strengthen everyone’s ability to be a more valuable team member.