Change Starts with Compassion…
and a Bold Vision
Founded by Rebecca Feinglos, the Feinglos Fund is a philanthropic organization committed to creating lasting, meaningful change by expanding access to grief support, empowering women and girls, advancing educational equity, and strengthening democracy—both in North Carolina and beyond.
Born out of lived experience and driven by a passion for systemic change, the Fund is focused on uplifting communities and advocating for those navigating some of life’s most challenging moments.
Our Founder
Origins
The Feinglos Fund was established by philanthropist and grief advocate Rebecca Feinglos in response to her personal journey through loss and healing. After experiencing the death of her mother as a teen, the sudden loss of her father in 2020, and a prolonged divorce, Rebecca recognized the lack of accessible support for those facing grief and trauma.
These deeply personal experiences inspired her to found Grieve Leave in 2021—an initiative that has grown into a global community providing support, resources, and relatable conversations around grief. Through her podcast, Grief’d Up, Rebecca continues to amplify raw, honest stories about loss to help build a more grief-informed world
The Feinglos Fund was created as the next evolution of that mission—to move beyond awareness and into action, investing in people and initiatives that create real, lasting impact.
The Feinglos Family,
1990s
Rachel Waugh
Director of Strategy and Operations
Rachel leads the Feinglos Fund's strategy, operations, and grantmaking. She cultivates partnerships with nonprofit organizations and develops the systems that help the Fund create meaningful change in Durham and beyond.
With more than a decade of experience across philanthropy and the nonprofit sector, she is passionate about connecting people, ideas, and resources to strengthen communities and create lasting impact.
Beyond the Fund
The Feinglos Fund is part of a broader mission to change how we understand and respond to grief.
Founded by Rebecca Feinglos, Grieve Leave is a national grief education and advocacy organization working to make grief a normal, supported part of everyday life. Through community events, workplace education, partnerships, storytelling, and practical resources, Grieve Leave is helping build a more grief-informed culture where no one has to navigate loss alone.
Rebecca Feinglos is a nationally recognized grief advocate, speaker, and policy consultant helping organizations, employers, nonprofits, and government leaders rethink how we support people through loss. Her work focuses on grief-informed workplaces, public policy, healthcare, caregiving, and cultural change, helping leaders build systems that better reflect the realities of being human.
Rebecca has spoken at conferences and events across North America and has been featured by SXSW, USA Today, Oprah Daily, Forbes, End Well, and more. Together, the Feinglos Fund, Grieve Leave, and Rebecca's speaking and consulting work advance a shared mission: creating a world where grief is no longer hidden, misunderstood, or faced alone.
Great philanthropy builds beyond the idea of “giving back”. It’s about partnering together to move forward.
Change Starts with Compassion…
and a Bold Vision
Our Founder
Founded by Rebecca Feinglos, the Feinglos Fund is a philanthropic foundation committed to creating lasting, meaningful change by expanding access to grief support, empowering women and girls, advancing educational equity, and strengthening democracy—both in North Carolina and beyond.
Born out of lived experience and driven by a passion for systemic change, the Fund is focused on uplifting communities and advocating for those navigating some of life’s most challenging moments.
Origins
The Feinglos Family,
1990
The Feinglos Fund was established by philanthropist and grief advocate Rebecca Feinglos in response to her personal journey through loss and healing. After experiencing the death of her mother as a teen, the sudden loss of her father in 2020, and a prolonged divorce, Rebecca recognized the lack of accessible support for those facing grief and trauma.
These deeply personal experiences inspired her to found Grieve Leave in 2021—an initiative that has grown into a global community providing support, resources, and relatable conversations around grief. Through her podcast, Grief’d Up, Rebecca continues to amplify raw, honest stories about loss to help build a more grief-informed world
The Feinglos Fund was created as the next evolution of that mission—to move beyond awareness and into action, investing in people and initiatives that create real, lasting impact.
Rachel Waugh
Director of Strategy and Operations
Rachel leads the Feinglos Fund's strategy, operations, and grantmaking. She cultivates partnerships with nonprofit organizations and develops the systems that help the Fund create meaningful change in Durham and beyond.
With more than a decade of experience across philanthropy and the nonprofit sector, she is passionate about connecting people, ideas, and resources to strengthen communities and create lasting impact.
Beyond the Fund
The Feinglos Fund is part of a broader mission to change how we understand and respond to grief.
-
Founded by Rebecca Feinglos, Grieve Leave is a national grief education and advocacy organization working to make grief a normal, supported part of everyday life. Through community events, workplace education, partnerships, storytelling, and practical resources, Grieve Leave is helping build a more grief-informed culture where no one has to navigate loss alone.
-
Rebecca Feinglos is a nationally recognized grief advocate, speaker, and policy consultant helping organizations, employers, nonprofits, and government leaders rethink how we support people through loss. Her work focuses on grief-informed workplaces, public policy, healthcare, caregiving, and cultural change, helping leaders build systems that better reflect the realities of being human.
Rebecca has spoken at conferences and events across North America and has been featured by SXSW, USA Today, Oprah Daily, Forbes, End Well, and more.
Together, the Feinglos Fund, Grieve Leave, and Rebecca's speaking and consulting work advance a shared mission: creating a world where grief is no longer hidden, misunderstood, or faced alone.