Corporate philanthropy is continuously evolving and adapting to meet current trends and societal needs. During this session, we are highlighting three powerful examples of organizations who have shifted their practices to be more equitable and intentional. We know it looks different at every institution, so join us to hear how Adobe, Amazon and REI made these steps and the journey each of their teams underwent. 

Lunch will be provided, as well as informal time to connect with your peers.

Speakers

Kristen Ragain, Managing Director, REI Cooperative Action Fund

Kristen Ragain currently serves as the founding managing director of the REI Cooperative Action Fund, a $10M+ public charity on a mission to create a more equitable outdoors. Founded in partnership with REI Co-op in 2021, the fund raises money from REI's 20 million members and more than 15,000 employees to support nonprofit organizations nationwide that connect historically excluded communities to the outdoors and create more equitable access to nature. Before her leadership role at the fund, Kristen was head of corporate philanthropy at REI Co-op and also served as the board vice president for the REI Foundation. During this time, Kristen created a bold vision for the future of philanthropy that led to the establishment of the REI Cooperative Action Fund, which now enables the broader co-op community to co-invest alongside REI in its philanthropy for the first time. In the fund's first two years of operations, over two million individual collective donors have supported approximately $15M in grants for 300+ nonprofits.

 

Throughout her social impact career, Kristen has envisioned, built and scaled philanthropic programs, a for-profit business and a nonprofit organization all from the ground up. She is committed to growing a more just and equitable philanthropic sector supporting people and nature and is a proud board member of the Environmental Grantmakers Association.

 

Alice Shobe, Global Director, Amazon Community Impact, Amazon

Alice is a global social impact leader. Under her leadership, Amazon's community social impact programs have flourished into multi-million dollar investments. Alice formed the company’s community impact strategy focused on supporting young people to have the resources they need to thrive. Amazon now has keystone community investment programs including Amazon’s Housing Equity Fund, a $2B commitment to create equitable and inclusive housing in the company’s headquarter regions, Amazon Future Engineer, Disaster Relief by Amazon and the Right Now Needs Fund. These programs have collectively improved the lives of millions of young people and families around the globe.

 

Alice started her career as a city planner in suburban Seattle, Washington. She has worked in public, nonprofit and philanthropic sector leadership roles to address complex social issues including homelessness, affordable housing and equitable community development. Alice previously served as the CEO of four nonprofit organizations in Washington State (Bellwether Housing, Building Changes, Philanthropy Northwest and Impact Capital) and as director of sound families, a $40-million-dollar public-private partnership created by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which ultimately tripled the supply of housing for homeless families in three counties.

Alice has a long history of board service. She currently serves on the board of Jobs for the Future, which drives the transformation of the American workforce and education systems. Alice was awarded and completed the Annie E. Casey Foundation Children and Family Fellowship, a national cross discipline 18-month executive leadership program. She earned her bachelor’s degree in urban policy from Michigan State University.

 

Amy White, Global Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, Adobe and Executive Director, Adobe Foundation

Amy White is the global head of corporate social responsibility and social issues communication at Adobe and the executive director of the Adobe Foundation where she leads corporate philanthropy, employee community engagement, environmental sustainability and technology for good initiatives. The Adobe Foundation creates positive change through support for creative and digital literacy, social equity and opportunity and active engagement in the communities where we live and work. The Adobe Foundation is a private foundation created and funded by Adobe Inc. 

 

White is an expert community relations and public policy leader, with over 15 years experience providing strategic leadership, education and management to nonprofit organizations, national coalitions, elected officials and key constituents. Over her career, Amy previously served as the director of corporate social responsibility and public relations for Nordstrom, as well as the head of global community relations and public affairs at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.    

Background

Philanthropy Northwest's Corporate Funders Group are quarterly opportunities for corporate funders in the Pacific Northwest to engage in programming, discuss topics and network alongside their peers in the corporate philanthropy sector. The primary purpose of this group is to advance peer exchange and learning toward creating more equitable philanthropy and to advance practices to support traditionally underinvested communities. 

Please contact Taylor Coats with any questions.