About the Foundation

At the West End Home Foundation, we believe aging should be celebrated, not feared. Our work is driven by the conviction that every older adult deserves to live with dignity, purpose, and connection.

Our Mission

Advancing aging with dignity and strengthening communities through strategic grantmaking, policy advocacy, and cross-sector collaboration.

Our Vision

We envision a world where all older adults are valued, have opportunities to be engaged in their communities in meaningful ways, and have access to high-quality care and services that promote successful aging.

How We Do Our Work

Fund

WEHF provides grant funding to mission-aligned organizations that provide direct services to older adults, engage in collaborative initiatives, or advocate and raise awareness to drive change in the systems that support people as they age.

Convene

WEHF brings together diverse partners and stakeholders from across the aging services ecosystem to remove barriers and expand resources so everyone can age well.

Advocate

WEHF boldly uses its voice and amplifies the voices of others to advocate for policies, programs, and cultures that promote successful aging.

Core Values

Age-inclusivity

We promote programs, policies and practices that confront ageism and reduce inequities so that all people, especially marginalized populations, can age well.

Connection

We lead with compassion and transparency to foster meaningful relationships with community partners and stakeholders.

Impact

WEHF boldly uses its voice and amplifies the voices of others to advocate for policies, programs, and cultures that promote successful aging.

Innovation

We embrace curiosity and continuous learning, recognizing that effective solutions require creativity and flexibility.

Stewardship

We invest responsibly and strategically to ensure lasting impact for future generations.

Our Team

Maria Gonzalez

President & CEO

Maria Gonzalez is new to the Nashville area and very excited to be here. She brings with her extensive experience within philanthropy including community investment, impact investing, nonprofit capacity building, advocacy, and donor services. She brings a passion for improving the lives of older adults and reinventing systems that no longer meet the needs of older adults today.

In 2026, Maria was named to the Board of Directors for Grantmakers in Aging. She is a past chair of the Great Lakes Leadership Academy at Michigan State University. Maria holds a bachelor’s degree from Indiana Wesleyan University and earned her certificate of fundraising management from the Lily School of Philanthropy at Indiana University.

Maria is a West Michigan native. Prior to her time in philanthropy, she worked with the Michigan legislature to represent the people of West Michigan and assist in the creation of legislation for the common good. Her career in philanthropy began serving on the board of trustees at Fremont Area Community Foundation in 2012 and then transitioning to a staff role in 2015. Maria oversaw the creation of programming that provided opportunities to connect older adults in their local communities. In her spare time, Maria enjoys the outdoors, coaching Girls on the Run, participating in races and athletic events, discovering new coffee shops, and spending time with her dog, Johnny.

Chandra Allen

Program Director

Chandra Allen is a proud Nashville native who brings a rich background spanning the nonprofit, corporate, and faith-based sectors. These diverse experiences have shaped her deep commitment to intentional relationship building and collaboration—particularly with underserved and marginalized communities.

Chandra joined The West End Home Foundation in 2021, drawn by a desire to elevate the often-overlooked needs of older adults and to help bring greater visibility to the resources and supports needed to age well. She currently serves as the Foundation’s Program Director, where she provides staff support for the annual grantmaking process and stewards ongoing relationships with community partners. In addition, she leads project coordination for the Foundation’s advocacy efforts and special projects.

Chandra earned a Masters of Divinity from Vanderbilt Divinity School and a Bachelor of Arts in German (Honors) from Davidson College. In 2024, she completed the Hull Fellows Leadership Program through Philanthropy Southeast.

In her free time, Chandra enjoys reading, cooking, and spending time outdoors with her husband and three children.

Cindy Dickinson

Administration & Technology Manager

Cindy joined The West End Home Foundation in 2012 to archive the Foundation’s historical collection that spanned over 120 years. Since 2014 she has provided administrative support to the staff and board and has helped create our strong organizational infrastructure. A big part of her job is managing our grant software platform and she has become everyone’s “go to” for technical support, whether you’re an agency applying for a grant or a board or staff member reviewing grant information in the portal.

Cindy is a native of Fairview, TN. Prior to joining WEHF, she spent 22 years in the automotive industry. In her free time, Cindy enjoys spending time with her three adult daughters and two grandpups, as well as reading and gardening.

Board Members