Michelle Carrillo, Acting Vice President & Director of Strategy, Programs and Community Solutions, has spent the last thirteen years of her career in the nonprofit and philanthropic sector and 8+ years in various roles at the community foundation. She brings experience leading large- scale regional health equity initiatives such as the Building Healthy Communities and Opportunity Youth Initiatives, working alongside young leaders, community members, sovereign nations and system leaders tackling intractable systemic problems, applying empathy research, community organizing, social innovation and & entrepreneurial thinking in the field. This work has helped leverage over 70 million dollars in funding over the past decade in Del Norte & Tribal lands and the community was recognized in 2019 as the Robert Wood Johnson’s Culture of Health National Finalist, one of 12 in the nation.

Michelle grew up in Curry County, Oregon and came back after college to work with the Extension Service and Oregon State University’s School of Public Health, running the county wide 4-H Youth Development and Oregon Open Campus programs. Her path to working in philanthropy started at the age of 22 because of the generosity of funders and board members investing in rural capacity building programs, offering free facilitation, leadership programs, grant trainings and mentorship. Michelle holds a Bachelor’s degree in Digital Media and Strategic Communications from Southern Oregon University and an associates in Business from Southwestern Oregon Community College.

When she isn’t working, you’ll find Michelle creating art, gardening, fixing up old houses or out on the water surfing, kayaking, or rafting. Michelle lives with her 2 children and husband on their small farm in Smith River, Ca near the village of Howenquet, unceded land of the Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation.