Roy Apagruk Agloinga brings extensive experience in philanthropy, rural health, government policy and Inupiat language preservation. His recent work has bridged outside funders to fund projects in Alaska. With maternal roots in the Bering Strait region and paternal roots in Spain, the Philippines and New England, Roy was raised immersed in Inupiat and Yup’ik cultures.

He is the co-author of the “Qawiaraq Iġałuik Inupiat Dictionary” and former Bering Strait representative on the Alaska Federation of Natives board. A tribal member of the Native Village of White Mountain and a shareholder for Sitnasuak, Teller, Golovin, White Mountain and Bering Straits Native corporations, Roy previously served as White Mountain Native Corporation’s board secretary. In 2023, Roy took on the role of president and CEO of First Alaskans Institute, an Alaska Native policy, leadership and advocacy nonprofit for Alaska. Roy joined the board for the Foraker Group in 2024. He also served on the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee and co-chair for the Equity and Inclusion Committee of the Western States Arts Federation. Roy previously served as a local trustee for the Alaska State Council on the Arts, a regional hospital administrator, tribal health board member and a tribal administrator. He is also a former mayor of the village of White Mountain. Roy has a bachelor’s degree in English and a degree in secondary education from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. He is a continuing student of Inupiat, Yup’ik, Spanish, Catalan and English languages, wisdoms and art.

Jaser Alsharhan is the director of programs overseeing cohort development and peer-to-peer programming at Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (GEO). Jaser comes to GEO after working at Philanthropy Colorado, a regional association dedicated to serving, convening and managing funder peer cohorts. Before working for Philanthropy Colorado, Jaser completed a one-year Fulbright Program Fellowship in Rubavu, Rwanda, where he coordinated with the U.S. Embassy to conduct weekly programs and research at the American Corner, a resource center that aims to increase understanding between Rwanda and the United states. Prior to working in Rwanda, he participated in the Duke University India Summer School for Future International Development Leaders. This field research position in Udaipur, India allowed him to analyze and propose creative, locally sourced approaches to rural development. He also was a curatorial assistant for the Biennial of the Americas and interned for Children’s Future International, writing and researching grant opportunities for the organization’s expansion of education and basic needs services for disadvantaged youth in Cambodia. Jaser received a master's in public policy from the University of Denver’s Josef Korbel School of International Studies and graduated from the University of Denver, where he was a Boettcher Scholar majoring in international studies and political science. He enjoys hiking, running, watercolor painting and giving back to diverse communities throughout his home state of Colorado.

Amanda Misiko Andere has spent over twenty years working in the nonprofit and public sectors as a leader committed to racial and housing justice through advocacy for systemic change. She is co-president of Neighborhood Funders Group, a network of funders that mobilizes philanthropy to resource organizing and movements so that Black, Indigenous and people of color communities and low-income communities thrive. She most recently served as the CEO of Funders Together for Housing Justice for ten years. Previously, she has served as the CEO of Wider Opportunities for Women, a national advocacy organization, and FACETS, a direct service organization in Northern Virginia. She currently serves on the boards of Equity in the Center, Bainum Family Foundation and Leadership Fairfax, and is an appointed member of the Fairfax County racial equity roundtable.

Margie Jo Eun Joo Andreason (she/her) is part of the larger Korean diaspora, arriving in Mni Sota Makoce as a toddler. She is committed to using her skills as a facilitator and her expertise in organizational change and governance to drive positive change. Her professional experience has been in philanthropy and nonprofits and leading grassroots community-organizing efforts. She is currently the director of justice, equity, diversity, inclusion at Northwest Area Foundation. Previously, she worked for Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy (AAPIP). In addition, she’s served on a number of volunteer boards and committees in the Twin Cities: the Minnesota Council on Foundations, Rooted to Last, the Coalition of Asian American Leaders, AAPIP’s Minnesota chapter, Don’t Buy Miss Saigon Coalition, Metropolitan Parks and Open Space Commission, Pan-Asian Voices for Equity, Community Action Against Racism, Justice for Fong Lee, Headwaters Foundation for Justice and the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota. Given her deep passion for adoptee justice, Margie is active in the transracial adoptee community and she volunteers for Network of Politicized Adoptees, a group she helped found in 2011. She has a bachelor’s in social work and political science from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota and a master’s in public affairs from the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs.

Dr. Dana Arviso serves as director of Indigenous programs at Decolonizing Wealth Project. She has 18 years of experience working in Native nonprofit and philanthropic sectors. She started her philanthropic career by working in a variety of roles including serving as the executive director of Potlatch Fund. Most recently, Dana was the senior program strategist at Native Voices Rising, a Native-led collaborative fund, where she successfully launched a funder learning fellowship. She has served on the boards of Social Justice Fund Northwest, Native Americans in Philanthropy, American Indian Graduate Center, 501 Commons and Look, Listen + Learn. Dana continues to serve on the advisory council for Native Voices Rising.

In 2024, Dana completed her doctorate. Her dissertation, "Reclaiming Philanthropy: Re-centering Native Giving in Respect, Relationships, Communal Responsibility and Reciprocity," explores how we might reimagine philanthropy as reparations to Black and Indigenous communities. She earned her bachelor's from California State University, Sacramento and her master's and doctorate from University of Washington college of education. Dana is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation and grew up on the Bishop Paiute-Shoshone Indian Reservation in the Eastern Sierra region of California.

As a facilitator and convener, Mares finds that philanthropy is most powerful when it centers on historically underserved communities and is interested in supporting our members in this important work. Mares enjoys building relationships with our members and connecting them with each other as they work towards their goals of more equitable philanthropy. Mares comes to Philanthropy Northwest with a background in nonprofit work including youth development work, grantwriting and civic engagement and economic research. She has a bachelor’s degree in economics and French. Mares enjoys reading, indulging in reality TV and living in peace with her cat.

Sheila brings a background in government and public policy to lead our efforts to end homelessness in Washington state. As president of the housing and homelessness program, Sheila is responsible for overseeing all advocacy and philanthropy efforts in pursuit of that mission. She brings deep experience in developing partnerships at the federal, state and local level and valuable insights into how advocates and decision makers together shape public policy. Previously, she served on U.S. Senator Patty Murray’s staff, in both Washingtons, most recently serving as her deputy state director. She worked on numerous issues in the Senator’s office over the years, from wilderness to women’s health to transit infrastructure and economic development. She holds a bachelor's in political science from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester and a certificate in public leadership from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. She serves on the board of the Washington Housing Alliance Action Fund and was appointed by the Governor to serve on the Washington State Advisory Committee on Homelessness.

Jesse Beason is Northwest Health Foundation’s president and chief executive officer. He leads the foundation in pursuit of its vision of health for everyone in Oregon and Southwest Washington. Before becoming President in 2019, Jesse served as the foundation’s vice president of strategy & public affairs. He has also served, among other roles, as executive director of Proud Ground and a senior policy director for then-Commissioner Sam Adams. Jesse keeps saying yes to serving on boards – too many, really. It’s a dangerous habit. He moved from Denver, Colorado to Portland to attend Lewis & Clark College two decades ago. Jesse is a proud uncle, a semi-closeted sci-fi geek and a middling beekeeper 

Shoshi has been working at the Alaska Humanities Forum since 2021. As director of grants and stories programs, she works on AKHF's grantmaking, FORUM magazine and films, and the FORUM storytelling fellowship. Shoshi grew up in northeast Ohio; since 2016, she has lived with her husband in Sitka, Juneau and Anchorage. Some of Shoshi’s happiest moments are when she’s making things — working on a painting, building a shed or finding her way through a sewing project.

As Senior Program Officer for Artistic & Cultural Expression, Michelle helps facilitate grants and programming for nonprofits providing vital community services through performing and non-performing arts programs as well as cultural institutions. Before coming to the Murdock Trust, Michelle spent seven years designing and leading arts and culture grant programs at The Oregon Community Foundation and served as founding artistic director of ethos music center in Portland, Oregon, where she designed and implemented programming for rural and urban communities throughout the state. Michelle has taught ethnomusicology at Portland State University, presented internationally at conferences on the arts as service and various arts education topics. She has served on several nonprofit boards and advisory councils in Oregon and received awards and recognitions for her community service. Michelle holds a bachelor's in English and music from the University of Portland and a master's in ethnomusicology from the University of Washington.

Lindsay Boswell is a philanthropic leader in the Yakima Valley, bringing nearly two decades of experience to her work at the Yakima Valley Community Foundation, where she has served for nearly ten years leading grantmaking operations. She oversees the strategic distribution of funds to strengthen the valley's rural nonprofit sector and cultivates statewide partnerships to increase philanthropic investment in Central Washington.

Sandy is College Spark’s CFO. As CFO, she acts as a strategic partner to the CEO, playing a key role in developing, monitoring and evaluating budget and investment strategies and managing and executing on all aspects related to finance, compliance, accounting and IT. Sandy joined College Spark as chief financial officer in February 2025. She brings over 35 years of experience in finance and accounting, spanning local sectors such as affordable housing, biotech research, healthcare and law, as well as global work in health equity and access. Before joining College Spark, she served as controller/director of accounting at The Max Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to accelerating health equity in lower middle-income countries.

Michael Brown is a civic leader dedicated to building stronger, more inclusive communities. As chief architect of Civic Commons, he leads a regional movement to strengthen civic muscle and ensure diverse voices shape decisions advancing racial and economic equity. For more than two decades, Michael has built cross-sector partnerships that empower communities to drive change — tackling challenges in housing, economic justice and policy reform. At Seattle Foundation, he launched the Center for Community Partnerships, seeding initiatives like Communities of Opportunity and the Vibrant Democracy Initiative and earning national recognition with the HUD Secretary’s Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships. In 2018, he founded Civic Commons to equip regions with the tools and relationships to solve complex challenges. His leadership spans government, philanthropy and community, with service on the Seattle City Council and numerous boards. Michael holds degrees from Loyola University New Orleans and the University of Washington and is an American Marshall Memorial Fellow.

Dr. Brown joined College Spark in 2020. Prior to College Spark, Dr. Brown served as the president of North Seattle College. Over the past decades, he has been a college professor and administrator; in those roles, he has led comprehensive strategic planning, accreditation, evaluating academic and student services programs, budgeting, leading faculty and administrator development, supporting curriculum and developing community partnerships. He holds a master’s in nonprofit administration and a doctorate in education focusing on improving higher education curriculum and instruction, with an emphasis on educational technologies and multicultural curriculum development.

Supporting social impact organizations in their work to make the world a better and more equitable place for all is the driving force for Scott’s work with clients. As a director at ORS Impact, Scott brings a strong passion and interest in working with complex data and evaluation methods to help clients improve in their ability to learn from constituents and ultimately grow in becoming more effective and impactful in their social impact strategies. Scott brings over 12 years of experience consulting with organizations across the nonprofit, philanthropic and private sectors, engaging in strategy development, organizational design and evaluation and assessment efforts. With these organizations, he has used his strengths in facilitation, strategic planning, data analytics and statistics to inform organizational strategies, processes and feedback, listening and learning mechanisms. Scott earned his PhD in industrial-organizational psychology, with an emphasis on strategy and evaluation in organizations.

Kara InAe Carlisle is an executive with over 20 years of experience in the civic and social sector. She has focused much of her career on place-based work, mediating economic and cultural conflicts and analyzing power dynamics. She is the past president of the City of Los Angeles' Human Relations Commission and played an early role in Neighborhood Councils. At the Kellogg Foundation, she led civic engagement work nationally and was the inaugural state director for New Mexico, where she partnered extensively with Pueblos. As vice president of programs at the McKnight Foundation, she focused on climate, arts, democracy and equity with a footprint across Minnesota, the Upper Midwest and internationally (Africa and Andes). Currently, she is president & CEO of The Ford Family Foundation, one of the nation’s largest rural foundations. Kara holds an master's in business administration from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and an M.Div. from Claremont School of Theology. She serves on the boards of The Center for Rural Strategies, vice chair of the National Center for Family Philanthropy and is the recent past chair of Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement.

As vice president of programs and partnerships, Polly oversees our programs that cultivate compassionate leaders, connect people across difference, amplify important stories and support resilient cultures. She leads the forum’s work building and sustaining long-term partnerships with organizations, Tribes, foundations and networks that strengthen our communities. Polly has twenty-five years of experience working throughout Alaska as an outdoor educator, youth program director, foundation program officer and nonprofit executive director. She’s been a part of many innovative and fun efforts, including the founding of a statewide youth organizing program, launch of a flat-track roller derby league and creation of a locally-loved wine bistro. Polly is a fan of staff and organizational development, and is excited to bring these passions to work with the talented team at the forum. She is proud to live and raise her family on Dena’ina lands in Anchorage. When not doing forum things, she’s learning fashion trends from her fifteen year old daughter, searching for a bottle of sriracha, mountain biking or writing poetry.

Jamie serves as Roots & Wings’ program director in addition to managing the foundation’s Basic Needs Program. Inspired by her origin story, she believes humanity should be at the heart of every decision. Before joining the foundation, she managed projects and programs delivering equitable services to underserved populations in healthcare, shelter and housing, and other human services. When she is away from her desk, she’s most likely adventuring with her dog, Penny.

Cherry Cayabyab (she/hers) is an immigrant business owner and CEO of KAYA strategik LLC – a national equitable strategy, implementation, data and community engagement WMBE consulting firm. KAYA means "capacity" in her native Tagalog. Cherry has developed and implemented equitable policy and systems change with the public and private sectors, culturally relevant capacity building funding programs and resources, technical assistance and inclusive engagement for 25+ years. She has an extensive history in community and civic engagement with immigrant, refugees and BIPOC communities on a local and national level.

Cherry has received the Champions of Justice Award from Congressman Adam Smith and Seattle’s Smartest Global Woman recognition for her race and social justice work. Cherry has engaged with the decennial Census since 2000 from grassroots outreach to ethnic communities and businesses, multi-racial coalition building; and producing and utilizing Census data for community, policy and legislative advocacy. Cherry co-founded the WA Community Alliance – a 501c3 and 501c4 multiracial democracy coalition of 100+ BIPOC orgs in Washington (formerly the WA Census Alliance), served as board president of Got Green, a climate justice nonprofit and API Chaya. She has also served as a City Council appointed commissioner with Seattle’s Immigrant and Refugee Commission and Congressional Fellow in US Congress. Cherry received her bachelor's in public and community service from the University of California, Irvine and her master's from the University of Washington Evans School of Public Policy and Governance. Cherry is a proud mom and certified aerial yoga instructor with CPR/AED/First Aid certification.

Carol Cheney brings a blend of lived experience, grassroots and state-agency advocacy and organizational development to her role as CEO of The Collins Foundation, where she has led the organization since April 2021. Adopted from South Korea alongside her twin, Carol grew up between Maryland and rural Oregon. Her career has been wide-ranging — spanning work as a farmworker, domestic violence advocate, health educator, nonprofit consultant and trainer and policy and community engagement manager for the Oregon Health Authority's Office of Equity and Inclusion. Before joining The Collins Foundation, Carol served at Meyer Memorial Trust as a program officer and later as diversity, equity and inclusion manager, guiding the organization's internal work to advance equity for marginalized communities. She has served on the boards of Seeding Justice, the Hambleton Project and the Oregon Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence, is the immediate-past co-chair of Pride Foundation and serves on the board of Foundations for a Better Oregon. Carol believes each of us has a role in building a just society where everyone belongs.

A seasoned communications strategist, Amy brings her expertise in earned media, message development and digital campaigns to her work motivating people from all walks of life to care – and to take action. With a passion for authentic storytelling in her work supporting advocates for education equity, affordable housing, democracy and economic justice, Amy believes deeply that lasting change is possible when impacted people take the lead in advocating for their own futures. Amy sits on the board of Alliance for Education and is a ComNetwork Seattle LOCAL Leader.

Juan brings over a decade of experience in evaluation and strategy in the social sector in the United States, Colombia, Peru and Bolivia. Since joining ORS Impact in 2018, he has partnered with foundations, funder collaboratives, government entities and nonprofits to support learning and strategic decision making that informs and advances their work. Juan’s ability to match a partner’s learning needs with right-sized and adaptive methods has allowed him to successfully serve as partner to clients like the Fund for Shared Insight, Habitat for Humanity International, the Census Funder’s Collaborative and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Juan specializes in evaluating complex systems-change initiatives including collective impact and field building efforts that aim to enable systems-level change across different sectors. In his practice, he strives to ensure that strategy and evaluation efforts interrogate power structures and remain in service of creating a more just and equitable society. Within ORS, Juan is part of the AI workgroup, working to lead the organization in responsible and ethical AI adoption and integration.

Ruth brings a lifelong joy of connecting through meaningful dialogue and a passion for collaborative projects that drive positive community change. She ventured to Missoula in 2010 in pursuit of an environmental studies degree. Since then, Ruth has immersed herself in various nonprofit roles, from youth group home programming to food security fund development. Motivated by a deep-seated desire to bridge the gap between hard-working nonprofits and for-profit business models, Ruth attained an master's in business administration, amplifying her ability to navigate complex challenges effectively. When she’s not in the office, you can find her running through mountain trails, perusing farm stands or experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen.

Michelle DeWitt is the executive director of Bethel Community Services Foundation. As the place-based community foundation serving Bethel and the surrounding Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta region, BCSF works primarily in three areas: grantmaking, philanthropic fund development and community capacity building. Michelle is the chair of the Yuut Elitnaurviat board of directors, a member of the Foraker Group Statewide Advisory Council and a Philanthropy Northwest board member.

Michelle served on Bethel City Council, served as the mayor of Bethel, as chair of the State of Alaska Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, served as chair of the Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault and served as chair of the Foraker Group Operations Board (now Statewide Advisory Council).

As a consultant at Nonprofit Finance Fund (NFF), Meadow brings clarity to the complexities of financial management, translating the language of finance and data into accessible insights that help nonprofits achieve their highest potential for impact. Through customized workshops, individualized coaching and comprehensive financial analysis, she equips nonprofit leaders and funders with the tools to think strategically about a wide range of financial decisions. At NFF Meadow leads client initiatives, develops financial models and tools and adds to NFF's body of free resources for nonprofits. Prior to her tenure at NFF, Meadow served as a strategy and finance consultant for social enterprises and program director at a grantmaking foundation in Colorado. She holds an master's in nonprofit management from Brandeis University.

Throughout her career in the nonprofit sector, Jackie is grateful to have worked with creative and compassionate people who seek to manifest a more just and equitable world. At Nonprofit Finance Fund (NFF), she partners with mission-driven organizations to support their financial health and sustainability so they can carry out their strategic visions for the future. As an advocate for better conditions for nonprofits and the people who carry out their missions, Jackie has contributed to many of NFF's recent field-building research projects, on topics including worker well-being, barriers to equitable access to funding and the full cost of delivering services. Prior to joining NFF, she served in fundraising roles at Sundance Institute (Los Angeles, California) and Finger Lakes ReUse (Ithaca, New York) and began her nonprofit career at Willie Mae Rock Camp (Brooklyn, New York). She studied communications at Northwestern University and developmental psychology at Teachers College, Columbia University. Her other professional journeys have included film and television production, live music, corporate recruiting and childcare.

Dr. Rodrigo Domínguez-Villegas is the inaugural director of research at the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute and director of the Latino Data Hub, an interactive data tool that democratizes access to disaggregated data about Latinos in the U.S. His work examines Latino economic mobility, migration and public policy, combining rigorous data analysis with policy-relevant insights. Prior to UCLA, he was a consultant at the Migration Policy Institute in Washington, D.C., where he researched Mexico’s migration policies, including protections for Central American unaccompanied minors in transit. Dr. Domínguez-Villegas’ research has informed legislation in the United States, Mexico and Canada and his work has been featured in more than 50 national and international media outlets, including The New York Times, NPR, NBC News, Reforma and El País. He holds a doctor of philosophy and an master's in sociology from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and a bachelor's in economics and geography from Middlebury College.

Shawna Douma, a senior research and evaluation manager at Roanhorse Consulting, LLC. Previously, she was the health education program manager for the Pueblo of Laguna for five years. In 2020, she became the youngest member of the Pueblo of Laguna COVID-19 Emergency Operations Center (EOC) command staff, serving as public information officer, where she created enduring systems for coordinating tribal, state and federal resources. She graduated from Haskell Indian Nations University with degrees in American Indian studies and community health and wellness. Shawna has over 15 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, developing positive youth programs and managing community-led volunteer projects for Indigenous communities in the Southwest. Shawna (Laguna/San Felipe/Hopi Tewa) is a matriarch of her family and lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with her three children.

Wayne L. Ducheneaux II is a member of the Board of Directors for the Northwest Area Foundation, where he helps guide the Foundation’s work to advance equitable economic opportunity across its eight-state region and 76 Native nations. Wayne is an enrolled citizen of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and grew up ranching on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation. His career has focused on strengthening Native nations, Native-led organizations and Tribal food and agriculture systems. He currently serves as Chief Advancement Officer for the Intertribal Agriculture Council, a national Native-led nonprofit that supports the conservation, development and use of Tribal agricultural resources. Wayne’s experience includes leadership in Tribal government, nonprofit management, philanthropy and community-based economic development. He was also an elected leader for the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. Wayne lives with his family on their ranch in South Dakota.

Ian Finch is the director of philanthropy at Farm Connect Montana, where he strengthens the organization’s mission by building meaningful relationships and mobilizing resources for a more just and resilient food system. Born in Helena, Ian’s Montana roots shape his commitment to our community, where he has spent the last two decades working in food system change from the field to plate. Outside of work, Ian enjoys gardening, exploring Montana’s mountains with his partner and dog and cooking local meals, and new ideas, with friends and family.

Amber Finley brings over 30 years of experience in education and currently serves as a special education coordinator for the Matanuska–Susitna Borough School District. Her work centers on supporting students with disabilities as they transition into adulthood through meaningful community connections and employment pathways. Driven by a deep commitment to equity and inclusion, Amber is passionate about helping young people achieve their highest level of independence. She continues to advocate for disability inclusion in the workplace, emphasizing that inclusive practices strengthen organizations and create opportunities for success for all.

Bill is a 25-year nonprofit professional with a background in behavioral health and homeless services leadership. For the past 12 years, Bill has served as a CFO and finance director at four different organizations. He has been the CFO at the Mat-Su Health Foundation for the past 3 years. He holds a Masters in Nonprofit Management from Regis University and is an Eagle Scout. Bill believes that all nonprofits, including foundations, should be focused on their mission in how they deploy assets and manage their assets. He has most recently led an effort to close a $70M market rate mortgage providing funds for Mat-Su Regional Medical Center to construct a new Behavioral Health Hospital. Additionally, he was able to lead the foundation through the effort to allocate a $20M impact investing fund. He is married and has one 20-year-old non-binary child. He currently serves as treasurer for two Alaska based nonprofit organizations.

Heather Flaherty (she/her) is the executive director of Chuckanut Health Foundation, a public charity and health legacy foundation that has served Whatcom County, Washington since 1983. Heather came up through community health and nonprofit leadership with a conviction that has only deepened over time: the most important thing a foundation can do is stay. Stay in relationship. Stay in the room. Stay in the fight even when the fight gets uncomfortable, even when the outcome isn't guaranteed. That we keep building bridges by giving the opposition our cell phone number. Over seven years, she has grown CHF from two staff and $100,000 in annual fundraising to a ten-person team raising more than $1.7 million — not by chasing trends, but by going deeper into the community she calls home. She co-chaired the 2022 Yes for Whatcom Kids campaign, a sprint that crowned a decade of public health coalition work and secured $100 million in locally controlled public dollars for early learning and family homelessness prevention. When a repeal initiative came for it, CHF filed the lawsuit to protect it. That case is still on appeal. They're still in it. She also holds an master's in business administration and a bachelor's in community health from Western Washington University, which she'll mention if you ask but what she'd rather talk about is what it took to get here and what it might take for your foundation to go deeper too.

Vicki Foege is vice president of JPMorganChase Global Philanthropy, where she leads philanthropic strategy and grantmaking across the Northwest, with a focus on housing stability and small business growth. Before joining JPMorganChase, Vicki served as first vice president and director of community relations at HomeStreet Bank, where she led corporate responsibility and DEI strategy, community initiatives and giving programs and served as founding president of the HomeStreet Foundation. She previously served as executive director of Communities in Schools and as vice president and corporate contributions manager at Bank of America. Vicki is chair-elect of the YWCA Seattle–King–Snohomish board and has held board leadership roles with Leadership Tomorrow, Kent Youth & Family Services, the Financial Empowerment Network, Philanthropy Northwest and Seattle Children’s Museum. She holds a degree in communications from Washington State University and is a graduate of Leadership Tomorrow.

Laura Forbes is the arts education program director at the Alaska State Council on the Arts, where she oversees grants, facilitates the Alaska Poetry Out Loud program and supports presenting and touring performing arts and arts exhibition. With over 20 years of experience in the public and nonprofit arts sectors, Laura is an experienced arts administrator, program developer and educator. Her passion for the arts was shaped by her upbringing in community performing arts, fostering a lifelong appreciation for creative expression. Laura holds a bachelor's in theatre from the University of Alaska Anchorage and earned an master's in integrated teaching through the arts from Lesley University in 2012. In 2025, Laura completed her service to the board of Arts Northwest as past president and serves as an advisor to the Alaska Arts Education Consortium.

Glen Galaich, Ph.D. (he/him), is the CEO of the Stupski Foundation — one of the nation’s most ambitious philanthropic spend-down efforts that is returning all of its resources by 2029 to advance health equity, food justice, postsecondary education and economic opportunity in the San Francisco Bay Area and Hawaiʻi. His professional mission is to support equity, justice and dignity in solidarity with communities that have been denied these essential values throughout history. He is committed to combating systemic racism, sexism and discrimination in all its forms; reducing practices of donor control that restrict resources to nonprofit organizations; and supporting a multiracial democracy.

Named one of TIME100’s most influential people in philanthropy, Glen has worked for over two decades in partnership with philanthropists, policymakers and community leaders to amplify their impact to advance social change. With an extensive background in human rights and philanthropy management, he has a history of building relationships based on his honest outlook and ability to cut through the noise, outlining steps necessary to effect lasting change. As the co-host of the Break Fake Rules podcast and author of the Who Gives? Substack, Glen questions philanthropy’s self-imposed rules and seeks ways philanthropy can better serve communities and contribute to lasting systemic change.

Fabiola Greenawalt is the senior program lead at The Russell Family Foundation, where she designs and implements strategies that drive the foundation’s mission and strengthen grantee partnerships, particularly through the environmental education and food for climate solutions programs. With over 15 years of experience, she is recognized for her collaborative approach and commitment to advancing community-centered, environmental initiatives. Fabiola serves on the boards of the Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Funders and the Blue Sky Funders Forum and is an active member of various advisory committees focused on environmental initiatives. She is a senior fellow with the American Leadership Forum’s Class XXX in Tacoma-Pierce County and an alumna of the PLACES Fellowship with The Funders’ Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities.

Julie Greene-Graham is a retired educator who served in the Anchorage School District for 34 years. During that time she taught every grade in the elementary and middle school levels, was a school librarian for both a K-12 school and two elementary schools, and then served as instructional coach. Married to a lifelong Alaskan, she is the mother of four daughters and Mema to four grandchildren. She is a member of Central Lutheran Church and part of their local organizing ministry team. Currently she is on the church council.

In 2022 she served on the Anchorage Municipal Emergency Cold Weather Task Force. Her role was to listen to people with lived experience to hear their stories, to learn about their struggles and dreams and to share their insights with the task force. That experience opened her eyes to the needs of our unhoused neighbors. She was honored with the 2023 Anchorage Home Community Volunteer Award from the Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness.

In 2024, Julie founded the nonprofit, In Our Backyard, to help address the need for interim supportive housing for our unhoused senior neighbors. She chairs the board of In Our Backyard and is a commissioner on the Housing, Homelessness and Neighborhood Development Commission for Anchorage."

Lee Ann Grogan has spent many years working with different nonprofits committed to building community, supporting children and advocating for their needs. After joining The Ford Family Foundation as program officer in 2022, she has taken her passion for family support, infant and toddler mental health and child abuse prevention to a new level. She holds graduate degrees in mental health counseling and education from Southern Oregon University and a graduate certificate in infant and toddler mental health from Portland State University. Her career includes counseling families through pregnancy and early parenting, family advocacy and community organizing around trauma informed care. Lee Ann grew up in the rural Mississippi Delta region of Arkansas and came to Oregon as an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer.

With over 15 years of experience in corporate philanthropy, Tara MP Havlicek is senior foundation manager for the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation (MEAF) where she focuses on national grantmaking and corporate employee volunteer programs. She volunteered with PEAK Grantmaking’s midwest region as regional co-chair from 2020-2023 and is now serving on PEAK’s board of directors. Her passion for philanthropy and disability inclusion has led her to speak to university graduates, the Japan America Society of Chicago, PEAK Grantmaking, Philanthropy Northwest, Philanthropy Southwest and Association for Career & Technical Education. Tara graduated with a bachelor's in psychology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and holds a professional certificate in environmental, social and governance strategy from Leeds School of Business at University of Colorado Boulder and the Center for Ethics and Social Responsibility. She lives with her husband and two adopted cats, Sylvester and Oslo, in Northern Illinois. In her spare time, you can often find her reading books, writing poetry and drinking tea.

lacrecia “lu” hill (she/her) is the community engagement and strategy director at Waters Meet Foundation, where she works at the intersection of grassroots organizing, philanthropy and community-led systems change in Eastern Washington. With more than a decade of leadership experience, Lu specializes in facilitation, cross-sector collaboration and operational strategy that helps organizations align people, systems and goals. Her career spans nonprofit leadership, philanthropy and social enterprise, including manufacturing and distribution operations. Lu is the founding board president of the Spectrum 2SLGBTQIA+ Center and serves on several regional nonprofit boards. She holds a bachelor’s in psychology and an master's in business administration

Robin Hill Dunbar is a seasoned philanthropic and early childhood systems leader with more than 20 years of experience advancing equitable outcomes for children, youth and families. Her career began in direct early childhood and family support roles, grounding her work in child care, early learning practice and the day to day realities facing children, families and providers. In her current role as director of children, youth and families, Robin guides strategic initiatives that strengthen rural early learning and child care systems, family stabilization and elevates community voice to build collaborative solutions across sectors. Robin is recognized for her strategic vision, partnership building and deep commitment to data informed, community rooted change shaped by lived experience in early childhood settings. She holds a master's in early childhood inclusive education.

Libby Hlavka currently serves as president of the Driscoll Foundation, a family foundation focused on environmental issues in northern Minnesota, as well as education, the arts and health/human services. She has over twenty years of experience in strategic planning, program development and financial management within academic, corporate and nonprofit organizations. Before joining the foundation, she held several senior administrative positions within Stanford University, focused on strategy and curriculum development. Prior to Stanford, Libby was a consultant with McKinsey & Company and she began her career as a financial manager at GE. Libby serves on the boards of the Northwest Area Foundation, the Jerome Foundation, the Minnesota Historical Society and Minnesota Public Radio/American Public Media. Her past board experience includes College Possible, Franconia Sculpture Park, Milkweed Editions and St. Paul Academy and Summit School and she is an active volunteer and fundraiser for a number of other schools and nonprofit organizations. Libby received a bachelor's in history from Yale University, an master's in business administration from Stanford Graduate School of Business and an master's in literature and creative writing from Bennington College. She lives in Minneapolis and has three children.

Katie Hong is senior advisor with The Giving Practice. With more than 30 years of experience across philanthropy, nonprofit and government, Katie Hong helps leaders, teams and networks strengthen relationships, align around shared purpose and advance meaningful change. She is known for her strategic insight, deep listening and ability to create inclusive and reflective spaces where people can connect, learn and take coordinated action. Katie has designed and facilitated a wide range of impact networks, including funder collaboratives, communities of practice, cross-sector partnerships and leadership learning communities. Her clients have included the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Raikes Foundation and the Washington State Philanthropic Education Funders Table, a network of 15 philanthropic partners committed to strengthening equity centered learning and action for young people across Washington state. Prior to consulting and coaching, Katie served in leadership roles at the Raikes Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the City of Seattle and in the Governor's office in Washington state. Katie brings a relational, equity-centered and systems-informed approach to helping groups build trust, deepen learning and move from intention to collective impact. Outside of consulting and coaching, she enjoys learning, walking, hiking, traveling and sharing good food and adventures with family and friends. She and her partner of 35 years live in Seattle and are raising teenage twins.

Sandee is a financial professional passionate about dedicating her skills and knowledge to the nonprofit world. Sandee grew up in mainland China and joined KPMG, a “Big Four” accounting firm, as a financial auditor after finishing her master’s. Though she loved auditing, she found she wanted to do more to help those in need. Sandee came to the U.S. in 2012 and received her master’s in public policy at the University of Kentucky while working on the finance team at Save the Children Foundation. She later took over as director of finance and operations for the International Center at the University of Kentucky from 2015-2021. As a queer, Chinese and first-generation immigrant, Sandee finds Seeding Justice as her happy start in Portland where she can put her love of excel and data analytics together while working for a just and joyful world.

Kentucky life has heavily influenced Sandee’s life — she likes woodworking, carpentry, BBQ, eating fried chicken and drinking bourbon with bourbon chocolate, to name a few. She also enjoys taking walks with her partner, learning guitar, drawing silly cartoon characters, reading art and architecture history, learning foreign languages and talking to her cat.

I have been with Child Welfare in Oregon for over 26 years and I've been a program manager overseeing daily operations for the past 8 years. My education is in early childhood development and I also received certification as a family mediator. I am the mother of two amazing adult daughters.

William Iggiagruk Hensley was born in Kotzebue, Alaska, in 1941 and raised in the Noatak River area, where his large family lived in sod homes during the winter and tents in the summer. They lived a traditional Iñupiaq life, as his ancestors had done for thousands of years.

Because there were no high schools in rural Alaska, Willie attended Chilhowee Academy in Tennessee, graduating in 1960. He then attended the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF). Following a -40-degree winter there, he transferred to George Washington University and graduated with a bachelor's in political science in 1966.

Back at UAF, Willie wrote a research paper titled Alaska Native Land Claims: The Primary Issue, which challenged the right of Congress to convey more than 100 million acres to the new state of Alaska, arguing that Alaska Natives still held aboriginal title to all of Alaska. After a five-year battle, Congress passed the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) in 1971, conveying 40 million acres and nearly $1 billion to Alaska Natives. It remains the last and largest land settlement with America's Indigenous population.

Willie served for 20 years as a director and eventually president of NANA Regional Corporation, created as a result of ANCSA. He was a founder of the Alaska Federation of Natives and served as its president and co-chair. Willie also served in the Alaska House of Representatives and Alaska State Senate before becoming Alaska commissioner of commerce. He chaired the Land Claims Task Force, which recommended a completely new approach to federal land legislation. Willie later spent 10 years as manager of federal government relations for Alyeska Pipeline Service Company in Washington, D.C. In 2025, he was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and was honored by George Washington University with an honorary Doctor of Public Service degree in 2026.

Following his retirement, Willie taught at the University of Alaska Anchorage as distinguished visiting professor of business and public policy for 10 years. He currently serves as chair of the board of the First Alaskans Institute, a research and cultural nonprofit serving the Alaska Native community.

Willie is the author of Fifty Miles from Tomorrow: A Memoir of Alaska and the Real People.

Willie is married to Abigale Ryan Hensley, and they have seven children and 16 grandchildren.

Ingle moved to Mat-Su in 2012. Before her work at Mat-Su Health Foundation, Vandana served as executive director of Frontline Mission, a community-based food distribution center. She holds an master's from Northwest Nazarene University, a bachelor’s in commerce and finance from the University of Pune and an additional degree in ministry. She also completed extensive academic work in communications and media with a focus on tailored communications for children. She recently received the “Friend of Nightingale” award presented by Nightingale College in Utah, honoring her efforts in strengthening the nursing workforce in the state of Alaska.

Leading Philanthropy Northwest’s operational, financial and people strategies, Rachel Jackson works at the intersection of organizational effectiveness, equity and sector transformation. Drawing on two decades of experience in nonprofit operations and philanthropic leadership, she specializes in building sustainable systems, strengthening organizational culture and guiding institutions through growth, complexity and change. Her work spans strategic planning, financial stewardship, people and culture, intermediary grantmaking and cross-sector collaboration in support of more equitable and community-centered outcomes.

Heather's career is committed to social impact. After spending nearly a decade as a nonprofit fundraiser, she turned to the public sector, directing $13+ million in grants for one of the country's largest local arts agencies. Now in the corporate sector, manages global programs and operations with the Avery Dennison Foundation. Heather is an experienced team leader, strategic project manager and systems improvement specialist who helps achieve desired outcomes. She has a master's in public administration and a certificate in nonprofit management. She is also a committed volunteer, most recently supporting Social Justice Fund Northwest and Seattle Humane. Heather lives in the Seattle area with her husband and two dogs.

Beginning as The Rasmuson Foundation’s first employee, Kaplan led its development into Alaska’s largest foundation. During her 27-year tenure as president, the foundation grew from $5 million to $800 million in assets and developed a national reputation for excellence in grantmaking and public policy work.

Nationally recognized as an outstanding philanthropy leader, as senior fellow, Kaplan will provide guest lectures and research, and will inform and participate in a variety of educational programs and activities sharing her expertise with the school’s students and philanthropic sector professionals nationwide. The senior fellow position is made possible by a grant from The M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust.

In 2022, Kaplan was appointed to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting board of directors by President Joe Biden and confirmed by the United States Senate. Earlier in her career, she served as president and CEO of the Alaska Public Radio Network, guiding the expansion of stations and programming, as well as the creation of a national Native American news network. Prior to joining The Rasmuson Foundation, Kaplan founded and led a consulting company providing government relations and management advising for private foundations, broadcast companies, Native corporations and nonprofit organizations.

Kaplan is a founder and board member of United States Artists, the nation’s largest funder of fellowships for artists in all disciplines, and guides the grantmaking of two donor-advised funds at the Alaska Community Foundation. She has received numerous honors from industry, tribal and civic organizations, both nationally and in Alaska.

Alison moved to Alaska in 1994 and discovered her purpose when she began volunteering with Covenant House Alaska. Her tenacity, ability to make connections and her refusal to take no for an answer ultimately propelled her to the position of executive director in 2012. In a time of recession, in 2010, Alison successfully raised enough capital to construct a new building and youth center for CHA, inspiring many with her conviction, courage and leadership. Alison is respected and valued in Alaska and across the country as a truly compassionate thought leader with a relentless commitment to helping the most vulnerable of our society. Over the years, she has been recognized for her efforts and is the recipient of many awards, including the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce’s Athena award, the YWCA Woman of Achievement award and the Rasmuson Foundation’s Sabbatical award. In 2019, she was among 15 leaders selected from across the U.S. for the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Children and Family fellowship, a 21-month leadership program. Alison has also dedicated her time and energy to Special Olympics Alaska, Soroptimist International of Cook Inlet, Alzheimer’s Association, Breast Cancer fundraising and YWCA Alaska. She loves to spend time with her best friend and devoted Goldendoodle, Charley.

Cay Kimbrell (she/her) joined Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies (MACP) in June of 2022 as program officer on the teachers & students team. In this role, she is responsible for implementing the domain’s program strategy and grantmaking plan to support teachers thriving in their profession. This work includes building partnerships with grant recipients and other key individuals and organizations, measuring and analyzing program impact and effectiveness and developing and overseeing grants. Cay began her career in education as dean of students at Breakthrough Collaborative in New Orleans and then returned to the city post graduate school to support New Orleans public schools with teacher recruitment. Post-hurricane Katrina, Cay was engaged in rebuilding teacher pipelines and school district practices in a variety of leadership roles both with the Louisiana Recovery School District and prior to that with TNTP. Cay has a bachelor’s in English with an emphasis in creative writing from Macalester College and a master’s in public administration and a master’s in geography from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University. Cay’s graduate study scholarship focused on historical geography and environmental racism and social justice movements.

Rachel Konrad is a senior director at Casey Family Programs, where she provides strategic consulting and technical assistance to child welfare and legal systems. Her work focuses on stabilizing the immigration needs of children and families through education, process development, practice adaptation and cross-system collaboration. Ms. Konrad has extensive experience in removal defense and pursuit of immigration humanitarian relief. She has represented detained adults, unaccompanied children and immigrant families in asylum, SIJS, U, T visa and VAWA cases. Her practice is rooted in trauma-centered and culturally responsive advocacy. Previously, she served three tours as a litigation attorney in the U.S. Navy JAG Corps, receiving two Navy commendation medals and a Navy achievement medal for her service. Ms. Konrad holds a juris doctor and a certificate in child law from Loyola University Chicago School of Law and is a member of the state bars of California and Illinois.

Marty Kooistra’s work has influenced policy and practice across the affordable housing continuum, emphasizing the intersection of equity, economic opportunity, building science and cross-sector collaboration through impact networks. His long tenure with Habitat for Humanity International included roles as global director of construction and environmental resources and vice president of strategic alliances. His twelve years with the Housing Development Consortium of Seattle-King County included launching the Exemplary Buildings Task Force (integrating high-performance and sustainability measures in the construction practices of the affordable housing sector) and raising the initial $11M for launch of the Evergreen Impact Housing Fund. In his current role as network weaver with Civic Commons, Marty guided launch and growth of Black Home Initiative (BHI) and directs implementation of the WA Starter Home Plan (SHP). Appointments include Seattle’s HALA committee and the University of Washington’s West Coast Poverty Center Housing Roundtable (co-chair). Honors include Emerald Cities’ Equity and Environment award, WSHFC’s Friend of Housing award and a Bush Foundation leadership fellowship at Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing.

Mayor LaFrance grew up in Palmer, Alaska and is a proud graduate of Alaska’s public schools. She lives in South Anchorage with her husband Dave Hemstreet, their three kids, and their puppy. Mayor LaFrance served two terms on the Anchorage Assembly, including two years as Chair. She brings over 25 years of private sector experience, managing budgets, projects, and people. Mayor LaFrance received a bachelor's from the University of Portland and a master's from Purdue University. She has volunteered for Great Alaska Schools and has led local scout troops. Mayor LaFrance has lived in Anchorage for over 25 years and is proudly serving as Mayor.

Aaron Leggett brings more than two decades of expertise in Alaska Native history, cultural stewardship and community leadership. Leggett serves as senior curator of Alaska history and Indigenous cultures at the Anchorage Museum, where he has advanced major exhibits, published extensive scholarship on Dena'ina culture and contributed to national and international understanding of Alaska Native peoples.

His leadership roles include serving as president/chief of the Native Village of Eklutna (2018-present), longtime member of the Cook Inlet Historical Society, advisor to the Smithsonian Arctic Studies at the Anchorage Museum and contributor to multiple statewide cultural and historical committees.

A published author of books and academic works, Leggett has received numerous awards including the Alaska Historical Society's Esther Billman Award for Excellence, the AFN President's Culture Bearer Award, the CIRI Shareholder of the Year Award and the Alaska Governor's Award for the Humanities. Leggett holds a bachelor's in Anthropology from the University of Alaska Anchorage.

Casey Long (Diné) is the senior research and evaluation manager at Roanhorse Consulting, LLC, where he leads culturally grounded, community-centered evaluation initiatives across the company’s research and evaluation portfolio. Guided by his Navajo upbringing and teachings, Casey brings a relational, holistic approach to evaluation — honoring story, place and the interconnectedness of people, community and healing. By weaving together data, cultural knowledge and lived experience, Casey works to ensure that evaluation strengthens communities, amplifies leadership and supports community-defined visions of wellbeing and self-determination. Casey holds a master's of public health from Grand Canyon University and a bachelor's in biology (physiology option) from Fort Lewis College. Casey approaches evaluation as a space for deep listening, reflection and shared meaning-making, prioritizing dignity, trauma-aware practices and relational accountability.

Iris is a direct practice supervisor at Casey Family Programs with 17 years of experience in the field of child welfare. She specializes in the critical intersectionality of child welfare and immigration, providing families with the expert guidance needed to navigate complex legal and social systems. Driven by the belief that family is an essential anchor, Iris’s work is characterized by cultural humility and a relentless pursuit of permanency. She remains dedicated to the mission of keeping families together and fostering strong, supported communities.

Katy Love is co-director of Listen to Community and an experienced practitioner of participatory philanthropy. Inspired by the motto of the disability rights movement “nothing about us without us” her work shifts power in philanthropy to the people most impacted and often least consulted. She has 20 years of experience in philanthropy and has served in director and program officer roles at foundations. Katy has served as a leader, facilitator or member of more than 60 participatory grantmaking processes in local, national and global participatory funds. With the Fund for Shared Insight, Katy led a multi-year participatory grantmaking initiative. She co-developed the Participatory Philanthropy Toolkit to help funders embed these practices. She also developed the Advancing Participation in Philanthropy Tool to gauge participation across a foundation’s work. As a consultant, Katy has developed, managed and assessed participatory philanthropy programs. She also works with foundations to bring community members onto governance. Before consulting, she was the director of the grantmaking team at the Wikimedia Foundation/Wikipedia, where her team ran six participatory grantmaking programs. Katy also served in a program officer role at the Global Fund for Children. She served as faculty on the Start Well program with the PGM Community. She graduated from Brown University and serves on the Steering Committee of the Human Rights Funders Network.

Cat Martin works at the intersection of community and philanthropy, helping bridge ideas, relationships and resources to accelerate community-led efforts. She currently leads external engagement activities at Allen Family Philanthropies, drawing on deep experience in corporate responsibility, grantmaking and the arts. Previously, she served at JPMorgan Chase, leading philanthropic investments in the pacific northwest to advance economic mobility and inclusion and at U.S. Bank, managing regional community relations and grantmaking activities. Early in her career, Cat held external affairs roles in Seattle with Frye Art Museum, Pratt Fine Arts Center and Pacific Northwest Ballet. Cat’s creative life spans music, theater design and textiles, including performing & recording as a multi-instrumentalist and presently singing in a women’s choir for health and joy. Cat currently serves on the governance group for King County Communities of Opportunity.

Juan D. Martinez Pineda is deputy director at the Aspen Institute Forum for community solutions and the founder of Fresh Tracks, a national initiative advancing community-led, intergenerational solutions rooted in the healing power of culture and the outdoors. His work focuses on building platforms that connect philanthropy, policy and community to shift power and expand opportunities for wellbeing, particularly for Indigenous, rural and historically underinvested communities. Juan has helped shape the growth of the Open Pathways Project and co-leads Interwoven Futures, a partnership with Native Americans in Philanthropy and the Center for Native American Youth focused on advancing community-centered philanthropy. He also supports the Native, Indigenous and Tribal Community of Practice within the Opportunity Youth Forum. He was named a national geographic explorer for his work connecting youth to the outdoors and serves on The Wilderness Society’s governing council. Juan is a TED speaker and continues to champion solutions that center equity, culture and community leadership.

Dylan McDowell is the chief executive officer of the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators (NCEL), a nonpartisan network of over 1,300 state lawmakers from all 50 states committed to advancing strong environmental policy. Over more than a decade with NCEL, Dylan has helped evolve the organization into a leading resource for state-level environmental action — developing signature event models, expanding strategic partnerships and directly supporting hundreds of legislators in learning and collaborating on impactful policy. Under his leadership, NCEL has launched initiatives that center Tribally-led environmental and community concepts, foster youth engagement through the Youth Outdoor Policy Playbook and create immersive learning experiences such as a renewable energy workshop in partnership with Blue Planet Foundation. Dylan is a trusted voice on state policy trends and works regularly with philanthropic organizations, stakeholder networks and the media to elevate state leadership on environmental issues. Originally trained as a science communicator, Dylan’s early career included roles with the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Oregon Sea Grant and the Hatfield Marine Science Center. He brings that foundation into his current work — translating complex policy into accessible, actionable insights that resonate across audiences and geographies. Outside of NCEL, Dylan recently completed six years on the Salem Parks and Recreation advisory board, including as chair and co-founded Salem Bike Vision to promote safe, inclusive bike infrastructure. He was named a SHIFT Emerging Leader in 2018 and selected for UC Santa Cruz’s Blue Pioneers Program in 2020 for his work in ocean conservation.

Born in Alaska just a few years after it became a state, Alex grew up watching the state grow as her family, neighbors and friends helped one another and started the programs, events and connections that shaped the place they called home.

Today, as president and CEO of the Alaska Community Foundation, Alex draws on more than 25 years in public policy, philanthropy and law. She is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and Stanford Law School, and most recently served as vice president of strategy at the Rasmuson Foundation, where she worked with nonprofits and partners across the state.

At ACF, she’s grateful for the opportunity to continue the tradition she saw growing up — people taking part in shaping the Alaska they want to see. She is committed to the mission of making giving simple and accessible, helping Alaskans carry forward what they care about most and ensure those things last for generations.

Kristina (she/her) is a community builder, problem solver and advocate who believes big change starts with small conversations. In 2021, she made history as the first Black woman elected to Bellingham's at-large City Council seat, championing affordable housing, racial equity and environmental justice. One of her proudest moments was helping lead a community march that moved local governments to declare racism a public health crisis — and then turning that momentum into the Whatcom Racial Equity Commission. At the heart of her work is a simple conviction: those most impacted deserve a seat at the table and the power to lead. As Chuckanut Health Foundation's special projects manager, Kristina leads the Health Equity Zone in East Whatcom, working alongside neighbors to tackle food access, transportation barriers, mental health and local leadership development. Her approach is rooted in grassroots solutions that reflect the community's own vision for its future. She also co-founded GRIT Commons, a community power-building organization advancing racial justice and health equity through grassroots leadership, voter activation and policy transformation. A San Diego native, Kristina moved to Bellingham in 2016, drawn by the city's vibrant energy and commitment to positive change. Her mission is simple: turn local voices into local power — because change works best when it starts at home. When she's not organizing or strategizing, she's exploring the community, connecting with friends and dreaming up new ways to bring people together.

John Mohr is the chief information officer at the MacArthur Foundation. He oversees foundation-wide technology services and planning and is responsible for developing a strong and sustainable information technology infrastructure. John is also the co-director of the Philanthropy Data Commons initiative. Prior to joining the MacArthur Foundation in 2012, John was the director of academic systems at the University of Chicago.

Lisa Murkowski is Alaska’s senior, and first Alaskan-born, U.S. Senator. A third generation Alaskan, she was born in Ketchikan and raised in communities across the state. Since joining the Senate in 2002, Senator Murkowski has been recognized as a consensus driven, bipartisan leader, with a reputation of always putting Alaska first.

Senator Murkowski is passionate about the Arctic and is a strong advocate for the people of the North. She considers investment in the region integral to America’s national security interests and Alaska’s economic interests.

Senator Murkowski seeks to always balance economic opportunities with respect for the land and the people. She favors meaningful consultation between federal and Tribal governments, while pursuing an all-of-the-above approach to energy to ensure it is clean, affordable and reliable for all.

She is a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, currently serving as Chairman of the Interior-Environment Subcommittee, Chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee and is a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee. She is also the former Chairman and current member of Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

She is married to Verne Martell and they have two grown sons. An outdoor enthusiast, Lisa loves adventuring throughout Alaska.

Jackie serves as the Collins Foundation's chief program strategist, a role she stepped into in September 2021 after joining the foundation in February 2018 as its third program officer. In this capacity, she has led the foundation's shift in grantmaking practices to center communities and relationships — including the development and implementation of its grantmaking strategy and budget in partnership with executive leadership, trustees, the Community Resources Team and nonprofit organizations. She is also responsible for shaping the strategic frameworks, policies and processes that guide the foundation's community investments. Before joining the foundation, Jackie spent more than two decades working in culturally specific nonprofits, developing deep expertise in culturally responsive practices across K–16 education, out-of-school-time programs and mentoring initiatives. Jackie's work is driven by a deep commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and by the belief that communities historically excluded from decision-making and resources must be centered in philanthropic practice.

Luan is the senior director of partnerships at IDEO, a nonprofit design firm dedicated to creating a more just and inclusive world. She leads a global portfolio of relationships and projects focused on designing with and for communities facing systemic inequality, disruption and displacement. In her role, Luan guides multidisciplinary teams in forging cross-sector partnerships, strategies and services that empower communities to endure and adapt with dignity. With nearly 20 years of experience across nonprofit, for-profit and social enterprise sectors, Luan brings a unique approach that combines systems thinking, co-creation with community members and allies and actionable innovation to drive meaningful, sustainable impact. She excels at facilitating multi-stakeholder collaborations and guiding human-centered innovation processes. Before joining IDEO, Luan worked at Enviu, a venture-building studio that launches companies to address global environmental and social challenges and at IBM as a management consultant in the innovation and growth strategy team. She holds a master's cum laude and bachelor's from Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands.

Jill comes to Philanthropy Northwest and The Giving Practice with more than two decades of leadership in the philanthropic and public sectors. She is energized by bringing people, resources and great ideas together to build greater racial and economic equity and is eager to partner with our members and clients to actualize a more just future for our northwest communities. 
 

Prior to her role as CEO of Philanthropy Northwest and The Giving Practice, Jill served in various leadership capacities at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, most recently as the director of strategy, planning & management and chief of staff for the U.S. Program. As a local government leader, she served as the director of the City of Seattle's Office of Economic Development. Jill previously established her own independent consultancy for philanthropic, nonprofit and government clients; and was a management consultant with Deloitte in their public sector practice.  
 

Jill is a fourth-generation Japanese-American and Seattleite, raising a teen, tween and pandemic puppy alongside her husband. She recently hung up her running shoes for a pickleball racquet. Passionate about sharing the stories of the Asian American experience, she serves as board co-president for the Wing Luke Museum.
 

Jill received a master’s degree in public affairs from Princeton University, and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Puget Sound, where she is trustee emeritus. 

I have worked for the Mexican Consulate’s Department of Protection for four years, focusing on children and families, farm workers and civil matters. My work centers on supporting family unity and protecting the well-being of children through collaboration with community and government agencies.

Daniel Oxendine is from the Lumbee Tribe (known as the People of the Dark Water), whose ancestral territory resides in Southeastern North Carolina, encompassing Robeson, Hoke, Cumberland and Scotland Counties. He now lives in Denver, on the ancestral lands of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute peoples. Daniel’s work is driven by a passion for collaborative research and community engagement, with a focus on advocating for Indigenous representation in cultural institutions. He has worked in museums, archives, historical sites and nonprofits, contributing to projects centered on cultural preservation and fostering meaningful connections with communities.

Sky Pagaling is the executive director of the Camas Foundation, a Tribally incorporated 501(c)(3) public charity established by the Kalispel Tribe of Indians. He has served in this role for the past two years, helping guide the foundation through its formative stage of growth and infrastructure building. Sky grew up on the Kalispel Reservation and has dedicated more than 17 years of service to the Tribe, bringing deep cultural knowledge and operational experience to his leadership. His career has spanned early childhood education, hospitality and compliance, surveillance and licensing and workforce development, including work at Northern Quest Resort & Casino and as a Tribal career advisor, responsible for building the Tribal career readiness program, supporting Kalispel Tribal members. As executive director, Sky works closely with Tribal leadership, the Camas Foundation board, community partners and regional and national funders to mobilize resources that support cultural revitalization, education, language preservation, environmental stewardship and community wellness. His leadership emphasizes trust-based, place-centered philanthropy that honors Tribal sovereignty and rural community realities. Sky holds a bachelor’s in humanities from Whitworth University and an master's in business administration from Gonzaga University. He is committed to building philanthropic models that reflect Kalispel values of generosity, hospitality, accountability and care for future generations.

Steve Patty, Ph.D. spent 16 years in higher education, serving as tenured professor and department chair at Multnomah University and professor and associate director of doctoral programs at the International University of Monaco. He founded Dialogues in Action in 2006 with a desire to support organizations that engage deeply with humans and their communities. With the team from Dialogues in Action, Steve has helped leaders develop people, organizations evaluate and communicate the human impact of their work and anyone with an aim of leaving the world a better place create the kind of strategy that gets to what matters most. He is an author and conference speaker.

Originally from Utqiaġvik, Kameron Perez-Verdia has more than 30 years of Alaska nonprofit leadership experience. In addition to his nonprofit work, Kameron has served on the Anchorage Assembly since 2019 and previously spent four years on the Anchorage school board. His commitment to community governance and strategic leadership extends to his roles in shaping policy and strengthening communities. Kameron is passionate about exploring Alaska's outdoors with his wife and two daughters.

Raquel Pfeifer has 15 years of experience working in partnership with communities. She is the senior director of strategic engagement and initiatives in the office of the CEO at Casey Family Programs. The team works across multi sector collaborations focusing on wellbeing and safety for children and families. Prior to joining Casey Family Programs, Raquel partnered with young people and communities across the nation to improve outcomes for young people who experienced foster care. She is steeped as a trainer and curriculum developer. Raquel has been deeply involved in her community, serving on her children’s school board and holding various volunteer positions.

Tasha Pineda is a philanthropic leader based in Alaska, where she has spent nearly two decades working alongside communities, public systems and nonprofit partners to address complex challenges. Her career spans philanthropy and public service, including leadership work at the Anchorage Health Department during major wildfires, the 2018 Anchorage earthquake and the COVID-19 pandemic. Tash brings a steady, values-driven approach to leadership, with a focus on clear decision-making, strong teams and funding strategies rooted in trust, accountability and local knowledge. Outside of work, she’s a devoted fan of wood-burning saunas, snow swimming and cold plunges in Alaska’s oceans. She cares deeply about relationships, honest work and outcomes that matter and has little patience for processes that exist without purpose.

Carolina loves to build things. In her role as senior consultant, she supports organizations and foundations to think deeply about the conditions and environments needed to amplify change. She’s worked extensively with nonprofits in the United States and abroad to help evaluate and understand short- and long-term impacts of diverse programmatic implementation. Prior to joining Community Wealth Partners, Carolina served as the leader and co-founder at Lead for Ghana, a member of the Teach For All network and the founding director of operations at the Equity Project Charter School, leading the expansion of educational programming. Over the last eight years, Carolina has worked extensively to launch new initiatives, understand ecosystems and engage diverse stakeholders to co-design programming that will have the greatest impact. Carolina received a master's in sociology of education and policy from New York University and a bachelor's from Tufts University.

Jeri has more than 10 years of experience supporting nonprofit organizations in rural, Tribal and urban communities. Since joining Waters Meet Foundation in 2015, she has focused on improving quality of life for older adults in eastern Washington while advancing support for community-based care workers. Born and raised in Spokane, Jeri is deeply committed to strengthening her community through grassroots, by-and-for community efforts. She holds a master's of public health from Eastern Washington University and was named a 2022 Grantmakers In Health Terrance Keenan Institute fellow, recognizing emerging leaders in health philanthropy. Jeri currently serves on the board of Spokane Tribal Network and previously chaired the City of Spokane Housing and Human Services Board. Outside of work, she enjoys a good cup of coffee and family adventures with her husband and two kids.

Suk Rhee serves as board chair for CareOregon Foundation, which has a mission to address health equity and improve the health of populations in Oregon facing health disparities through community-led change. Suk has served in many roles in community health, philanthropy, civic engagement and community-led change including: racial equity to accelerate change fund director, Borealis Philanthropy; vice president, programs and board director at Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy; bureau director, office of community & civic life at the City of Portland; and vice president, strategy and community partnership at Northwest Health Foundation. Suk’s interests are to reimagine our generational aspirations, bring forth integrity and courage in our daily work and compassionately hospice dying systems. Suk also serves on GEO’s governance advisory group.

Esther Richmond serves as the community affairs manager for Washington State at U.S. Bank where she leads the U.S. Bank Foundation's community strategy. She is a trusted connector between corporate and community partners, advances initiatives that drive economic stability, sustainable growth and meaningful impact. With more than 25 years in the financial industry, Esther brings deep expertise in corporate philanthropy, human resources / talent acquisition, retail banking and transaction services. Her career includes leading employee engagement, network management, business integration, national program development and operational initiatives across the county. Esther is deeply committed to community enrichment and serves on several boards including Junior Achievement of Washington, El Centro de la Raza, Habitat for Humanity King County corporate committee and the Black Home Initiative (BHI) leadership council. Esther is longtime advocate for diversity and inclusion initiatives launching numerous employee recourse groups including women’s leadership and Latino/x professionals establishing the first Latino network at one of the largest financial institutions.

Carlos is director of strategic initiatives at Decolonizing Wealth Project, where he stewards the organization's high-impact sector transformation programming for donors and philanthropic institutions. He is a recognized champion of education justice, immigrant rights and racial equity and brings over 15 years of experience in community organizing, movement building and philanthropy. Before joining DWP, Carlos served in executive and leadership roles at Youth on Board, Student Immigrant Movement and United We Dream Network. He served on the Boston School Committee from 2011-2012 before co-founding the Boston Education Justice Alliance (BEJA) and the Massachusetts Education Justice Alliance (MEJA) and serving as student field director for the Massachusetts No on 2 Ballot Initiative Campaign. Carlos has received an official citation for his leadership by the Massachusetts State Senate and is a recipient of El Mundo's 2018 Latino 30 Under 30 award. He has advised and consulted with philanthropic institutions like the Nellie Mae Education Foundation, the Ford Foundation's Civic Engagement & Government Program, Einhorn Collaborative and the Social Innovation Forum and has served on the board of directors of Massachusetts Advocates for Children and the Schott Foundation for Public Education. He currently serves on the board of directors of resource generation, a national organization of young people with wealth and class privilege working to end wealth hoarding in their lifetimes. He lives with his partner in Brooklyn, New York.

Nancy began her nonprofit career at Boys & Girls Clubs of America, which ignited her passion for working in the nonprofit sector. Her subsequent professional moves took her to Washington, D.C., Miami and Atlanta where she built her career focusing on programming and capacity building for youth-serving nonprofits. While she has managed federal programs, developed statewide initiatives and facilitated workshops, a favorite aspect of her work is building relationships. Nancy gets energized by meeting new people, listening to their challenges and helping them find solutions that both honor where they are and help them expand their experiences.

Though Nancy is originally a New Yorker, her parents are from the Caribbean island of Haiti. Immediately after graduating from college she spent six months working there to learn more about her family’s culture and about living in a developing country. That proved to be an enlightening immersion experience, with lessons that carry over to her work today.

Nancy is a graduate of Georgia State University and received a master’s in international development education from Florida International University. 

I am a first-generation American born to Filipino parents. My paternal grandfather survived the Bataan Death March and via creative use of the GI Bill educated his six children to move in one generation from subsistence rice farming to careers in teaching, law, accounting and nursing across three continents. Based in Portland, Oregon, I’ve lived and worked for 25 years in the Philippines, India, Senegal, Kenya, Italy, Peru and Ecuador with organizations including the United Nations, the Wildlife Conservation Society and The Lemelson Foundation. I’ve advised the Government of Uruguay, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Grand Challenges Canada, Portland State University and IMPAQTO a women-owned and led social enterprise impact fund in Ecuador. I coach and advise individuals, teams, organizations and networks on strategy, design, facilitation and governance, with a focus on community-led, participatory grant-making and power-sharing in philanthropy. Special interests include climate justice, regenerative food systems and youth mental health. I've worked as a professional cellist and gymnastics instructor and hold a master's in environmental science from Yale, a bachelor's in international politics from Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service and a certificate in international law from Université Cheikh Anta Diop in Dakar, Senegal. I’m facilitation-ready in English, Spanish and French; conversational in Portuguese and Italian; and know just enough to get into trouble in Tagalog, Ilocano, Mandarin and Wolof. Outside work, I learn languages (currently Korean), grow food in my garden, play the guitar, piano and cello, dance with my husband and spend time outdoors.

Sheryl Saturnino Oliva was raised in Anchorage. She earned a bachelor’s from the University of Alaska Anchorage and a master’s in community and social change from the University of Miami. Sheryl spent a decade in Miami where she built a career in philanthropy and nonprofit leadership. In 2024, she returned home to Alaska and joined the Rasmuson Foundation. As program officer at Rasmuson Foundation, Sheryl manages a portfolio of core grants and leads the Individual Artist Awards program, one of Alaska’s most significant investments in artists. Through this work, she supports artists and organizations across the state, helping strengthen communities, foster artistic excellence and expand opportunities for Alaskans to thrive. In her previous role as community investments manager at The Miami Foundation, Sheryl managed multiple grantmaking portfolios and led collaborative funding initiatives focused on arts and culture, journalism and community well-being. She worked with philanthropic, nonprofit and civic partners to direct more than $70 million in annual charitable investments and advance community-driven solutions across Greater Miami. Sheryl is a founder of the AANHPI Caucus of PEAK Grantmaking, served as co-chair of the League of Women Voters of Miami-Dade County, was recognized as a HYPE Award finalist by the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce and is a recent graduate of Leadership Anchorage through the Alaska Humanities Forum. Outside of work, Sheryl enjoys playing pickleball, reading, exploring new restaurants, traveling and spending time with her husband, Alex, and their cat, Mia.

Wendy K. Schneider is a philanthropic strategist and advancement leader with decades of experience in major gifts, corporate and foundation relations, planned giving, grants and state and federal appropriations. Her work has spanned nonprofits, higher education, healthcare, cultural institutions, educational technology and economic development, both nationally and internationally. She has also worked extensively alongside American Indian Tribes, Alaska Native communities and Tribal foundations, helping build partnerships and mobilize resources in support of community-driven initiatives. Over the course of her career, Wendy has held senior leadership roles including director of institutional advancement at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, senior director of philanthropy at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation and associate vice chancellor for the Seattle Colleges Foundation. She also led partnerships and strategic initiatives at the National Judicial College. Today, Wendy continues to advise organizations and leaders on philanthropy, donor strategy and community-centered fundraising. She currently serves as a CFRE ambassador and remains deeply engaged in advancing ethical, relationship-based philanthropy across diverse communities and sectors.

I am a network and organizational strategist, capacity builder, learning design specialist and technologist on a mission to re-engineer the philanthropic, nonprofit and public sectors through my consulting and to align my business and livelihood with the solidarity economy. I have extensive experience holding space for developing emergent and adaptive structures, strategies, practices and tools for the leaders that are courageously working to shift power and resources to the global majority. I work with partner organizations and networks to support collaborative “big thinking” efforts with multiple stakeholders and solutions within a complex system. I am an organizer at heart, helping to organize networks and people around equitable strategy, operations, learning and technology.

Sabrina Smith is vice president, community impact lending manager at Columbia Bank, where she leads community impact strategies across Washington and Idaho. With over 30 years of experience in financial services, she is a recognized leader in economic empowerment and community partnership development. Aligned with Columbia Bank’s Community Impact Strategy and Community Impact Fund, Sabrina helps drive philanthropic investments that advance financial mobility, housing stability and community resilience for under-resourced and underestimated individuals, families, small businesses and communities. She partners with nonprofit housing organizations, community development agencies and local leaders to expand access to financial education, down payment assistance and affordable lending opportunities, removing barriers and fostering long-term financial stability. She serves on several boards and committees throughout Washington State, reflecting her commitment to equity and lasting community impact.

Erik Stegman serves as chief executive officer of Native Americans in Philanthropy, a national organization advocating for stronger and more meaningful investments by the philanthropic sector in tribal communities. Previously, he served as the executive director for the Center for Native American Youth at the Aspen Institute. He has held positions at the Center for American Progress on their poverty to prosperity team, as majority staff counsel for the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and in the Obama administration as a policy advisor at the U.S. Department of Education. Erik began his career in Washington, D.C. at the National Congress of American Indians Policy Research Center. He holds a juris doctor from UCLA School of Law, an master's in American Indian Studies from UCLA’s Graduate Division and a bachelor's from Whittier College.

Erin Switalski is the senior program director at the Headwaters Foundation, a health conversion foundation dedicated to working side-by-side with Western Montanans to improve the health of their communities. Erin has more than 25 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, organizing and mobilizing for progressive change in Montana and nationally. She has worked in the fields of human rights, affordable housing and environmental health, with an eye toward creating just, inclusive and thriving communities for all people and the planet. At Headwaters, Erin oversees program strategy development and implementation, learning and evaluation and organizational strengthening supports for grant partners. Erin is a 2020 Terrance Keenan Institute emerging leader in health philanthropy fellow and serves on the board of Philanthropy Northwest, a philanthropic support organization serving funders in Montana, Idaho, Washington, Wyoming, Oregon and Alaska. She holds a very under-utilized bachelor’s degree in Spanish and in her free time, she can be found wandering the mountains of Montana with her husband and two daughters, preferably with skis on.

Born and raised in Nome, Alaska, Senator Löki Gale Tobin is a University of Alaska Anchorage graduate and holds a master’s degree in rural development from the University of Alaska Fairbanks Peace Corps master's International Program, having served as a Youth Development Volunteer in Azerbaijan from 2008-2011. Currently, she's a PhD candidate at the University of Alaska Fairbanks; her research topic is focused on culturally responsive education. Löki has worked in marketing and communications for Alaskan nonprofits like Boys & Girls Clubs, Kawerak and the Alaska Community Foundation. She was also a certified fundraiser for the Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center. Löki met her mentor, Tom Begich, on one of his many trips to Nome. This started a long friendship that eventually led to her joining his legislative team in Juneau as policy director, where for the past several years Löki has worked to serve Alaskans by expanding universal, voluntary pre-K across Alaska, protecting renters and homeowners from predatory insurance practices and recognizing the resiliency and continued saliency of the Alaska constitution. Löki is active on several nonprofit boards and cares deeply about serving her community and doing good in the world. She's an avid bicycle commuter and community volunteer.

Tonisha A. Toler, originally from the East Coast, has lived on the West Coast for 26 years. She attended The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington where she studied art activism, exploring systems, history and art as a tool for confronting social injustice. In 2007, Tonisha moved to Portland, Oregon, joining the Regional Arts and Culture Council (RACC) for 10 years. There, she developed expertise in community grantmaking, event planning and engagement, with a focus on connecting and supporting disenfranchised communities — including communities of color, immigrants, refugees, people with disabilities and the LGBTQ community. In 2017, Tonisha joined The Collins Foundation through Philanthropy Northwest's Momentum Fellowship. As a community resource strategist, she advances the foundation's commitment to equity and its mission to improve the quality of life for Oregon's communities. In her free time, Tonisha enjoys passionate conversations about community, food and travel and is a devoted yogini.

Casey Trupin is the director of the Raikes Foundation’s housing stability for youth strategy, which supports efforts in Washington state as well as national approaches to ensure that all youth have a safe and stable place to live. Prior to joining the Foundation in 2015, Casey was the directing attorney for the children and youth project at Columbia Legal Services, where he engaged in litigation, legislative advocacy and other systemic initiatives to improve outcomes for children, youth and adults experiencing homelessness, as well as those in foster care and the justice system. Casey has chaired a number of national initiatives related to children and youth, including the American Bar Association’s (ABA) Commission on Homelessness and Poverty and the ABA’s Children’s Rights Litigation Committee. He has also authored and edited numerous books and articles on adolescents and the law and in 2011, was awarded the ABA’s Distinguished Lawyer Child Advocacy Award. Casey has worked on issues related to youth experiencing homelessness since 1994 in Seattle, California, Washington D.C. and throughout Latin America. Casey earned his doctor of law degree from the University of Washington School of Law and completed his bachelor’s degree from Pomona College.

Melinda engages, activates and coordinates the activities of the Listen to Community ambassadors and allies to help make funders listening and shifting power to community standard practice in the philanthropic sector. As an independent consultant to senior leadership at philanthropic organizations around the country, Melinda promotes, crafts and implements strategies for effective philanthropy. Prior to starting her consulting practice in 2003, Melinda co-founded and ran Redefine Alliance (formerly REDF), a social-venture capital fund; served as a manager at a national healthcare nonprofit; and worked as a management consultant. She enthusiastically brings her unique combination of business, leadership, evaluation and management skills to helping mission-oriented organizations meet their goals, care for people and better the world in which we live.

As Programs Manager, Cleo helps guide Northwest Health Foundation’s different initiatives to build political power and advance health equity for Black, Indigenous and other communities of color in Oregon and SW Washington.

Previously, Cleo served as development director at Partnership for Safety & Justice, where she raised funds to support policy advocacy, leadership development and campaigns centering people impacted by Oregon’s criminal legal system. She also worked in development at University of California, Los Angeles, advancing access for students of color and undocumented students and supporting women’s health and reproductive care initiatives.

Cleo graduated from the University of California, Irvine with a bachelor's in criminology and the University of Cambridge with an MPhil in Criminological Research. Cleo has served as board member of Oregon Abuse Advocates & Survivors in Service (OAASIS) and board chair of the Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon (APANO). Outside of work, Cleo enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter, having dance parties at home and cooking together as a family.

Becca Uherbelau has more than 25 years of experience in driving change on the local, regional and state level. She’s led strategy and operations for civic engagement efforts, spearheaded successes in electoral politics and steered democracy and movement building spaces. She has worked in public service for local and state government, led community-based nonprofits and directed local and statewide ballot measure and candidate campaigns. She is currently the executive director of the Oregon Donor Alliance. Becca recently served as director of equity and racial justice for Oregon’s Governor and has led Our Oregon, a social and economic justice coalition with a focus on election integrity and ballot measures. She has prioritized community power and an inclusive, multiracial democracy in all of her leadership positions, including her time in the Multnomah County chair’s office and leading inclusive community engagement for the Metro Regional Government. Becca currently serves on the board of Ballot Initiative Strategy Center, Inc. and the Alliance for a Safe Oregon. Her previous community service includes serving on the Portland Charter Commission, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon Board and Oregon State Board of Nursing. Becca grew up in a small Southern Oregon town. She lives in Northeast Portland with her teenage son and enjoys being a sports mom, visiting her college-aged daughter in the Bay Area, listening to long-playing records and inexpertly tending to her ever-increasing collection of indoor plants.

Jose Antonio Vargas is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, Emmy-nominated filmmaker, and Tony-nominated theatrical producer.

A leading voice for the human rights of immigrants, he founded the nonprofit immigrant storytelling organization Define American, twice named one of the World's Most Innovative Companies by Fast Company, and explored all facets of immigration as host of its YouTube show and podcast Define American with Jose Antonio Vargas. He is also a co-founder of 1587 Sneakers, the world's first Asian American sneaker brand.

His best-selling memoir, Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen, was published by HarperCollins in 2018. An updated edition with new material for living in Trump’s America was released in 2025. In 2026, the Brooklyn Public Library named it one of the 250 most notable books in U.S. history. His next book will examine how diverse immigrant populations are upending America's foundational Black and White racial binary. He also has a third book in the works about global migration.

Deborah Vo joined Rasmuson Foundation in January 2021 as a program officer on the program team, the foundation’s grantmaking team and in July 2023 moved into a new role shaping strategic planning and proactive grantmaking. She is a lifelong Alaskan whose expertise extends from tribal governance to health care to community development. She most recently worked as special assistant for rural affairs to U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski. She is serving as one of seven commissioners on the U.S. Arctic Research Commission under an appointment by President Biden. Deborah was born and raised in St. Mary’s on the Lower Yukon River, the youngest of 10 siblings. She started her career as her hometown’s first female city manager. She also served as a tribal administrator, a health planner facilitating tribal management of statewide Alaska Native health services and executive director of the Alaska Inter-Tribal Council, a former statewide advocacy group for Alaska’s 229 federally recognized tribes. Deborah also worked for two companies in the community development quota program that channels investments from fisheries into jobs, education and other benefits in 65 Western Alaska communities. She managed rural energy planning for the Alaska Energy Authority. During her nearly seven years in Murkowski’s office, Deborah represented the senator at gatherings, advised her on rural issues and accompanied her on rural travel. She holds an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Elms College and a master's of business administration from Alaska Pacific University. Deborah lives in Anchorage surrounded by her family.

Kevin spearheads Northwest Area Foundation’s efforts to stand alongside changemakers in its region of eight states and 76 Native Nations and fund work that leads to racial, social and economic justice. At the heart of this approach is NWAF’s longstanding commitment to target 40 percent of its giving to Native-led organizations. Other hallmarks of the foundation’s work during his tenure include an expanded commitment to impact investing and an organization-wide drive to advance justice, equity, diversity and inclusion (JEDI). Prior to joining NWAF, Kevin spent 13 years with the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation in Flint, MI. His nonprofit career began in the early 1990s with Food Gatherers, a community-based anti-hunger organization in Ann Arbor, MI. Kevin serves on the board of BoardSource, the national organization dedicated to excellence in nonprofit governance. He is past board chair of Philanthropy Northwest and Minnesota Council on Foundations.  

Lauren Waudé is a community resource strategist at the Collins Foundation in Portland, Oregon. Alongside the community resources team, she helped redevelop the foundation's grantmaking processes to challenge legacy practices and center relationships with nonprofits. Her path into philanthropy began through the Philanthropy Northwest Momentum Fellowship, which brought her to the housing opportunities portfolio at Meyer Memorial Trust. Lauren's cross-sector experience spans affordable housing, community service programs, local government and nonprofit organizations — always grounded in a commitment to advancing racial justice. She has served on the boards of Friends of Minidoka and the Independent Publishing Resource Center. Lauren grew up in Seattle and is now rooted in Portland, where she is raising her family and is committed to building a more equitable and inclusive Pacific Northwest.

Jean Westrick is the president and CEO of the Technology Association of Grantmakers (TAG), a nonprofit membership organization that cultivates the strategic, equitable and innovative use of technology in philanthropy. For two decades, TAG has provided global leadership for the role of technology in philanthropy by empowering grantmaking organizations to leverage data and technology for greater impact. Westrick brings two decades of experience building communities, leveraging technology and leading innovative and programmatic strategies. Prior to being named CEO of TAG, Westrick was the director of IT strategy and communications at The Chicago Community Trust where she led change management efforts for the foundation’s $6M digital transformation initiative. Also, while at The Trust, Westrick directed On the Table, an award-winning engagement model designed to inspire resident action that was replicated in 30 cities nationwide. A longtime advocate for equity in STEM education, expanding technology access and increasing science literacy, Westrick holds a bachelor's from Michigan State University and a master's from DePaul University.

Judy manages Meyer Memorial Trust’s responsible investment initiatives to ensure mission alignment. She tracks sustainable, environmental and social metrics and fund manager diversity in support of Meyer's strategic initiatives relating to the endowment. Judy also oversees the active ownership program including shareholder advocacy and proxy voting. After over two decades as a commercial banker, Judy pivoted to leverage her skills and knowledge to work for organizations dedicated to racial, gender and economic justice, specifically in support of women entrepreneurs and Portland’s Black community. Judy holds a bachelor's in economics from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, an master's in business administration from Willamette University, a certificate in environmental, social and governance investing from Columbia University and an executive certificate in nonprofit fund development from Notre Dame.

Laurie was born and raised in Anchorage and has spent the last 35 years focusing her commitment and passion on the role that nonprofits and tribes have in Alaska. Laurie has been with Foraker since 2001 and has led the organization since 2015. As the President and CEO of Foraker, she leads a dynamic team and partners with three boards to ensure Foraker is a valued, strategic and thoughtful partner across Alaska and the nation. Additionally, Laurie focuses daily on connecting nonprofit leaders across the state by regularly supporting creative collaborations, providing board and leadership development and creating a positive culture of philanthropy within organizations. She continues to be instrumental in creating many of Foraker's services, curriculum and philosophy. Laurie is a strong advocate for the power of the nonprofit sector to change lives, improve our environment, secure our economic opportunities, provide essential arts, cultural and educational experiences and truly partner to ensure healthy communities. She has joyfully been associated with Philanthropy Northwest since 1998.

Justin Yuen is CEO of Grouptrail, a program management software platform proven and tested since 2004. It's a fully flexible and integrated hub to track programs, data, communications, grants and outcomes used by hundreds of school districts, colleges, providers and regional partnerships and funders across the country. Before launching the company, he was at Nike as the senior manager in corporate social responsibility and head of footwear quality for the Europe/Middle East/Africa region in the Netherlands. Justin is a trustee of the Justice + Joy National Collaborative. Previously, he was an Oregon Museum of Science and Industry board member, Leadership Council member and GO Kids steering committee member of the Oregon Community Foundation, on the planning committee for the Asian American Youth Leadership Conference, board chair of the Street Trust, board chair of the Natural Step Network, the Multnomah County Advisory Committee on Sustainability and Innovation, co-chair of the Portland/Multnomah County Sustainable Development Commission, board member of the Northwest Earth Institute, the Portland Parks Foundation, advisory board of the University of Michigan's Erb Institute For Global Sustainable Business, Portland State University’s Implementing Sustainability Program, the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education and a member of the Metro Regional Government Community Investment Initiative Leadership Council. He has a degree in international studies from The Johns Hopkins University.

Shu-Ling Zhao (she/her) is an organizer, artist activist, policy wonk and community advancement director at Chuckanut Health Foundation. Born and raised in Whatcom County, she has deep roots in the communities this work is meant to serve. In the field of health equity, Shu-Ling has made a practice of holding space for community voice and translating that voice into structures that last. She brings more than 20 years of experience using theater to build empathy and hold space for truth. Prioritizing that authentic human connection runs through everything she does at Chuckanut, where she leads and supports multiple initiatives focused on public health and civic belonging work rooted in the belief that the people closest to the problems are closest to the solutions. Shu-Ling designs and holds processes that center real voice — not extracted input, not checkbox participation, but the kind of slow, relational, multilingual, barrier-removing engagement that actually changes what gets built and who gets to build it. She meets people where they are, earns trust over time and believes that joy and justice belong in the same room. Whether through public health, theater or policy, she is committed to building systems rooted in community power.

Dr. Lin Zhou was appointed president and CEO of Bates Technical College in March 2018. Since joining Bates in 2013 as dean of continuing education, apprenticeship and child studies, she has held several leadership roles — including dean of instruction, executive dean and vice president of institutional effectiveness and student success. Prior to her tenure at Bates, Dr. Zhou spent over a decade at Lake Washington Institute of Technology (2001–2012), serving as associate dean of extended learning and director of the branch campus and continuing education. Dr. Zhou currently serves on multiple national and state-level boards, including the American Association of Community Colleges, National Asian Pacific Islander Council, Washington State Adult Basic Education Advisory Council, The Aerospace Joint Apprenticeship Committee and Workforce Central. She is also chair of the board of trustees for College Spark Washington and chair of the educational services committee for the Washington State Community and Technical College Presidents.