Across the Northwest, wildfires and smoke are becoming an expected part of our summers. In addition to the fires this year, we saw other devastating natural disasters impact our region, including Typhoon Merbok in Western Alaska and extreme flooding in Montana. As we grapple with the effects of climate change, how can we better prepare for and respond to natural disasters? What can philanthropy do to move resources and engage communities in the process?  

On this call we will hear from national experts from the Center for Disaster Philanthropy and explore how philanthropy can get involved in rapid response, prevention and long-term recovery. We will also spotlight efforts from around the Northwest including the Western Alaska Disaster Recovery Fund, Montana Disaster Recovery Fund and the Oregon Wildfire Relief and Recovery Fund.

Speakers

Michael Achterman, Philanthropic Advisor, Oregon Community Foundation

Michael likes to spend time with his family, listen to music, write poetry, garden, build things and brew the occasional IPA. He holds a bachelor's degree in English from Whitworth University and a master's degree in creative writing from Portland State University. His ideal weekend consists of an early cup of coffee, chopping wood and a drive down a long-forgotten highway.

 

Taylor Crowl, Local Community Foundations Program Officer, Montana Community Foundation 

Taylor joined the Montana Community Foundation in 2022 as the local community foundations program officer where she manages their program for Local Community Foundation Affiliates across the state. Prior to this, she was a Community & Economic Vitality Program Specialist with the Montana Department of Commerce, where she helped communities execute impactful downtown revitalization projects through the Montana Main Street, Montana Historic Preservation Grant, and Community Development Block Grant programs. She started her career in Montana after serving two terms as an AmeriCorps VISTA; one was spent working on a statewide disaster resilience framework to collaborate between state agencies, and the other was spent mentoring, training and supporting other members across the state. Taylor has a bachelor's degree in geography from Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY.

 

Cari Cullen, Director, Midwest Early Recovery Fund, Center for Disaster Philanthropy

As the director of the Midwest Early Recovery Fund, Cari Cullen leads the Center for Disaster Philanthropy’s early recovery work and the Native American and Tribal Recovery Program. During her 15-plus years of nonprofit management experience, Cari has directed diverse teams and projects. She has experience managing volunteers, fostering sustainable partnerships, developing curriculum and training, coordinating multi-state projects and leading national and international programming initiatives. 
 

Cari’s professional disaster recovery experience began in 2012 as the senior program manager for Camp Noah, where she worked with communities affected by disasters to assist them in understanding and meeting the needs of children post-disaster. In her other past roles, Cari served as a disaster case manager, state-wide recovery coordinator and project manager for the Midwest Consortium for Disaster Services. Through these experiences, Cari has developed expertise in post-disaster children’s needs, spiritual and emotional care, mid- to long-term disaster recovery, rural recovery and community needs assessment. 

Katie Kavanaugh, Vice President of Administration and Innovation, Alaska Community Foundation

Originally from Petaluma, California, Katie fell in the love with Alaska while visiting and moved to Denali for summer work after graduating high school. Upon graduating from college, she moved to Kodiak where she worked at a nonprofit museum. This work, along with serving on a number of boards, afforded her the opportunity to understand the importance of the nonprofit sector in actively creating the type of community that is a gift to future generations. Katie has served Alaska Community Foundation (ACF) in various leadership roles, including as the vice president of programs and grants for five years, and has now transitioned into a new role as the vice president of administration and innovation.

Kristin Kelley Monahan, Owner, Kelley Nonprofit Consulting

After working in-house at several nonprofits, Kristin Kelley Monahan formed Kelley Nonprofit Consulting (Kelley NPC) in 2006, offering a full suite of services to help clients in the philanthropic, community nonprofit and government sectors dream and achieve big, bold visions. From helping nonprofits grow, diversify and manage earned and unearned revenue, to launching creative nonprofit partnerships to bring federal and state resources to rural communities in the Pacific Northwest; and from helping larger philanthropic clients implement new strategic funding opportunities, to providing much-needed capacity as smaller family foundations explore new endeavors; Kelley NPC serves as an amplifier and translator of sorts – helping resource providers and resource seekers align their efforts for the greatest good.   
 

Eligibility

Participation in this meeting is open to philanthropic organizations that currently make grants. This includes corporate giving offices, private and public foundations, community foundations, government grantmakers and CDFI institutions with a philanthropic focus. You do not need to be a Philanthropy Northwest member to participate, but do need to represent an organizational philanthropic institution. Please do not join this call if you are a nonprofit organization. If you are unsure about your eligibility, please contact JulieAnne Behar.