Our Mission 

The mission of the TZONE Foundation is to build a sisterhood movement among women and girls by raising funds and making grants to community-based nonprofits that serve low-income, disadvantaged girls.  The Foundation is committed to supporting visionary organization that enables women and girls to achieve their full potential.

TZONE funds nonprofits organizations that foster supportive female relationships through innovative programs and services that promote personal accountability, self-esteem, goal setting and healthy lifestyles.  TZONE also encourages philanthropy to support women and girls by increasing awareness of the needs, aspirations and accomplishments of outstanding women-led organizations.

Grant Guidelines.

Our Staff 

Nosizwe Chimurenga, Grants Manager

Nosizwe’s passion for the development and empowerment of women began in 1985 and while attending UCLA. There, she co-founded the African Women’s Collective (AWC) to address women’s issues on campus, in the larger community and internationally. Today, AWC continues to provide an opportunity for women to build a sisterhood and focus on their holistic development.

Nosizwe has since managed many programs and projects for nonprofit organizations serving women and girls including Los Angeles-based Black Women for Wellness and the East Bay Peri-Natal Council. For 22 years, she has worked hand-in-hand with other women to make a difference in the lives of girls and women on the West and East Coast and southern Africa.

At UCLA, she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a Master’s degree in Urban Planning.

Mary Genis, Executive Director

Mary Genis serves as Executive Director to TZONE in a consulting capacity. She brings 24 years of experience in the nonprofit and philanthropic sector. She worked with a number of small and mid-sized philanthropic foundations. Her work to advance the cause of women and girls began in the early 1980’s where she served as Director of the Women in Science and Engineering program at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago.

A certified coach specializing in leadership development and executive transition, Ms. Genis builds the personal and organizational capabilities of all clients. She is the owner of Sintra Consulting, providing executive coaching, leadership development, peer learning, facilitation and team building services to foundations, colleges and universities and nonprofit organizations.

She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Bradley University, an MBA from the University of Southern California and her coaching certification at the Hudson Institute in Santa Barbara.