Hannah Powell
Hannah Powell is the Founder and Director of Mother Angela’s Foundation, a nonprofit she established nearly four years ago to address barriers to care for people living with chronic illness. The organization’s flagship program is a hard-copy Resource Pamphlet designed to connect unhoused and low-income individuals with wraparound services. Launched in 2025 in New Orleans and San Francisco, the Resource Pamphlets already demonstrated impact: a 10% sample of recipients reported a 91% reduction in overwhelm and panic when seeking support. A 2026 iteration is currently in development, with plans to expand accessibility through multiple languages, braille, and enhanced content. Hannah’s professional focus blends mission-driven advocacy with practical program implementation. Her philosophy centers on dismantling stigma through unconditional generosity and a community-first approach, underpinned by the belief that everyone deserves well-met basic needs, stability, and the opportunity to pursue happiness. Over the course of nearly four years in the nonprofit space, her work has evolved from direct services such as meal pass-outs and harm-reduction programs to prioritizing resource accessibility and information clarity. She combines strategic oversight with hands-on engagement, ensuring programs meet the nuanced needs of marginalized communities while measuring and refining their effectiveness. Hannah’s expertise lies in harm reduction, community advocacy, nonprofit leadership, and family support services, and she continues to develop programs that strengthen resilience and wellbeing for mothers, children, and families affected by health adversity. Beyond her work at Mother Angela’s Foundation, she envisions furthering her professional growth by exploring roles in larger nonprofits while continuing to advance her foundation’s mission. Passionate about community empowerment, holistic wellbeing, and creating safe, supportive spaces, Hannah brings dignity, connection, and tangible impact to the communities she serves.
• Washington and Lee University - BA, English
What do you attribute your success to?
Lived experience with chronic illness (both personal and familial), the privilege of education and the support of chosen family.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Advocate for yourself, resist taking the easy path that isn't aligned with your values, and cultivate a support network to sustain you through the lowest moments and celebrate the highest.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Challenges: Stigma; barriers related to insurance, income and personal support; industry inequities related to access to capital; the difficulty of balancing personal health challenges with organizational growth.
Opportunities: Creating low-barrier, accessible resources (like multilingual/braille pamphlets) to reduce overwhelm and connect people to sustained care; inviting people of means into the mutual aid and harm reduction fold in a moment when many are more aware than ever before of the inequities facing our communities.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Unconditional generosity, community-first thinking, equity in healthcare access, and ensuring everyone has the stability and support to pursue their own happiness.
Locations
Mother Angela's Foundation
San Francisco, CA 94110