Josephine Roberts

Managing Director of Advancement

Across more than 17 years in advancement leadership, Josephine Roberts has helped conservation, education, and community organizations strengthen fundraising, communications, and long-term sustainability during periods of growth and change. Her work has spanned organizations ranging from local, place-based nonprofits in Detroit, Chicago, and northern Michigan to national and international conservation initiatives.

As a former Executive Director of a land trust, Josephine understood the day-to-day realities of conservation work at the community level, from stewarding donor relationships to navigating complex local partnerships and building trust across diverse stakeholders. 

Just prior to joining LegacyWorks Group as Managing Director of Advancement, Josephine founded and served as Principal Consultant at Tugboat Philanthropy, where she led the formation and public launch of a North American corporate foundation, supporting the development of systems that integrated fundraising, storytelling, reporting, and team engagement across diverse geographies and initiatives. She believes strong systems create the conditions for people, partnerships, and missions to thrive over time.

Josephine was in the Honors Program at DePaul University and holds a B.S. in Psychology from Wayne State University. In 2026, she received her Wild Mushroom Certification from the State of Michigan and is a sailing skipper out of the Detroit Yacht Club. More than anything, she loves being a #boymom to wild little outdoorsmen.