Deborah Aubert Thomas serves as the president and CEO of United Philanthropy Forum. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from over 30 years in the nonprofit and philanthropic sector. She is committed to leading and equipping philanthropy to be effective partners for change in their communities.

Prior to her appointment as president and CEO of the Forum, Deborah served as president and CEO at Philanthropy Ohio. She also served as the organization's vice president of programs & learning from 2014 – 2019, providing vision and oversight for all Philanthropy Ohio local, regional, and statewide educational programs. In addition, she led the strategy to apply a diversity, equity, and inclusion lens across all of the organization’s learning and networking programs.

Before joining Philanthropy Ohio, Deborah served as director of grants and programs at the Princeton Area Community Foundation, where she provided strategic leadership to implement a $1 million annual competitive grantmaking program. She also designed and implemented educational programs for donors and nonprofits, including the development and launch of a giving circle for The Fund for Women and Girls utilizing a participatory grantmaking process.

During her career, Deborah has worked at Girls Inc.; the Institute for Women’s Leadership at Rutgers University, both teaching and administration; and Women & Philanthropy, where she coordinated their diversity internship program. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology, State University of New York; a Master of Arts from the Steinhardt School of Education, New York University; and a Master of Science from the Milano Graduate School, New School University.

Deborah values her service on many boards and her role as a volunteer, currently serving on the board of directors for Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (GEO). She formerly served on the boards of United Philanthropy Forum and the Women’s Fund of Central Ohio. She is a member of the Columbus Ohio chapter of Jack and Jill of America Inc. and the parent affinity group MOSAIC at Columbus School for Girls.

Deborah resides in Bexley, Ohio, with her husband L’Quentus Thomas, and their youngest child. Her eldest is currently a Midshipman at the United States Naval Academy. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, music, film, food, travel, and creative pursuits in the community with her extended chosen family.