Martha M. Cowden retired as the Associate Program Manager of the Children's Investment Fund, which provides technical assistance, training, and financial support to early education and care and after school program managers who are improving or expanding their facilities. Before that she worked for government and non-profit agencies focused on human services, education, or criminal justice. Her expertise is in planning, program development, community collaboration, grant making, and resource development. She is a past president of the Gifford Board.