The MacArthur Foundation Ombuds Resource
Confidential, impartial, independent, and informal support for employees and leaders navigating workplace concerns and conflict. A trusted place to talk through challenges, explore options, and find constructive ways forward.
Meet Your Ombuds
Ralph Johnson
MacArthur Ombuds
Ralph is an experienced organizational ombuds and trainer. He served as the Americas Ombuds for McKinsey & Company, supporting colleagues with workplace conflict, career development, and interpersonal concerns. His background includes leadership roles in engineering, consulting, executive coaching, and nonprofit leadership.
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Jacqueline Villafañe, Psy.D.
MacArthur Ombuds
Jacqueline is an organizational ombuds with more than 20 years of experience helping leaders and teams navigate complex conflict and change. She is a certified executive coach and mediator who supports communication, accountability, and leadership effectiveness across corporate, nonprofit, academic, and government sectors.
View full profile →What Is the Ombuds Resource?
The ombuds is an independent, informal resource for discussing workplace concerns, exploring options, and navigating difficult situations. You can bring questions, challenges, or conflicts of any kind and work through them in a thoughtful, low-risk way.
How the Ombuds Resource Can Help
How We Can Help
- Listen and provide a confidential space to talk
- Help you clarify concerns and explore options
- Prepare for and navigate difficult conversations
- Identify helpful resources and next steps
- Surface patterns and concerns anonymously to leadership
What We Do Not Do
- Conduct formal investigations
- Make decisions or enforce outcomes
- Advocate for any one person or the foundation
- Replace Human Resources or legal processes
- Receive official notice for the foundation
- Keep records that identify you
Ways We Can Support You
In addition to one-on-one support, the ombuds offers a range of services to help individuals, teams, and the foundation navigate conflict and work more effectively.
One-on-One Conversations
A confidential space to talk through concerns, clarify options, and prepare for next steps.
Facilitated Conversations
Support for constructive, forward-looking conversations between individuals.
Team and Group Support
Facilitation and support for teams working through challenges, communication issues, or conflict.
Workshops and Training
Practical sessions on communication, feedback, conflict management, and workplace skills.
Organizational Insight
Identifying patterns and trends to inform improvements in systems, practices, and workplace culture.
What Makes An Ombuds Different
The ombuds operates according to four core principles that help create a safe, fair, and trusted experience.
Confidential
The ombuds will not share what you discuss, or even that you met, without your permission, except in rare situations involving imminent risk of serious harm.
Impartial
The ombuds does not take sides for any individual or the foundation.
Informal
The ombuds is an off-the-record resource and does not participate in formal processes.
Independent
The ombuds operates outside management structures and is not part of formal reporting channels.
Frequently Asked Questions
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More Questions
What is the ombuds resource?
The ombuds is an independent, informal resource for discussing workplace concerns, exploring options, and navigating difficult situations in a confidential setting.
Are there limits to confidentiality?
Confidentiality is maintained except in rare situations involving imminent risk of serious harm or where required by law.
Do I need to prepare before reaching out?
No preparation is required. You can come as you are and talk through your situation.
Still have a question? Contact the ombuds team.
Connect with an Ombuds Team Member
Whether you have a question, want to think through a situation, or need help preparing for a conversation, the ombuds team is here to support you.
What People Are Saying
Feedback from individuals who have worked with an ombuds.
“Most valuable was the clear guidance on how to approach solving my problem.”
“This was helpful and productive. It was more than I expected and felt comfortable knowing I could explore the situation with a third party.”
“Thank you for the ideas to have the conversation with my supervisor. I feel prepared.”
Contact an Ombuds Team Member
Submit a confidential request to connect with an ombuds. A member of the ombuds team will respond within one business day.
Your submission is confidential.
The ombuds resource operates under a charter approved by MacArthur Foundation President John Palfrey and follows the International Ombuds Association Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice. View the charter →