Tara Tuomaala is the primary contact for the Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Family Foundation’s arts and culture initiatives, including the Foundation’s Anchor Arts and Jazz Education programs. Prior to joining Erb, Tara served as Director of Development for Living Arts, an arts education and youth development organization based in Southwest Detroit. Tara has spent more than 20 years developing an understanding of best practices and strategies through staff and consulting experiences with nonprofit organizations in New York and Detroit, including the Detroit Waldorf School, the Detroit Zoological Society, The Jewish Museum of New York, and American Ballet Theatre.

Tara earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art History and Philosophy from the University of Michigan and a Master of Arts degree in Nonprofit Arts Administration from Columbia University. She values the critical function the arts can play in promoting community dialogue, advancing educational outcomes, and supporting healthy local and regional economies—and the roles that partnership and collaboration can have in amplifying impact. As an avid sailor and outdoor enthusiast, she also holds a lifelong appreciation for Michigan’s natural environment and the Great Lakes.