Ambar Cristina Hanson

Ambar Cristina Hanson, MPA, is the Executive Director at Mortenson Family Foundation. Her journey into philanthropy began after working for 17 years in the nonprofit sector. Previously, Ambar worked as Chief External Relations Officer at Hiawatha Academies, a network of K-12 free public high-performing charter schools in South Minneapolis.

Ambar moved to Minnesota from the Dominican Republic in 1997. Ambar has been dedicated to advocating for communities to have access to higher education, jobs that provide livable wages, health, housing, and safety. Before working in philanthropy and PreK-12 education, Ambar held several roles at Esperanza United and the National Latina Network for Healthy Families and Communities. Ambar also served as a board member for the Emerging Markets Homeownership Initiative, East Side Neighborhood Development Company, and Cornerstone Montessori Charter School, as well as several advisory boards, panels and committees. Currently, Ambar serves as a board trustee for the Minnesota Council of Foundations, Latino Economic Development Center, and F.R. Bigelow Foundation. She is also a finance committee member for Headwaters Foundation and a member of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Alumni of Color Association.

Ambar lives with her partner and two children in South Minneapolis, where they enjoy dancing, hosting gatherings, and taking music lessons together.