Portrait-style photograph of Alesha Washington, president and ceo

Alesha Washington

Alesha Washington
Alesha Washington is Seattle Foundation President and CEO

On May 11, 2022, Alesha Washington began her tenure as President and CEO of the Seattle Foundation. She most recently served as the program director for Vibrant Neighborhoods and Inclusive Economy at The George Gund Foundation based in Cleveland, Ohio. During her time at the Gund Foundation, Alesha led the collaborative efforts of the senior program team to strengthen democracy building and civic engagement strategies statewide. She also directed grantmaking strategies to bolster community revitalization, economic growth, and resident leadership.

Prior to her role with the Gund Foundation, Alesha was the Vice President of Government Advocacy for the Greater Cleveland Partnership, one of the largest chambers of commerce in the country. In her role, she served as the lead advocate on local, state, and federal policy issues impacting the Northeast Ohio business community and economic development efforts.

Alesha has also held senior government relations roles with Cleveland Neighborhood Progress and the Centers for Families and Children. Among her civic endeavors, Alesha served on the boards of the Cleveland Public Library and the Center for Community Solutions. She is currently a member of the Policy Advisory Committee for the W.E. Upjohn Institute and a member of the Brookings Metro Leadership Council. Alesha is a 2017 Crain’s Cleveland Business “40 Under 40” honoree and 2015 American Marshall Fellow of the German Marshall Fund of the United States.

Alesha received her undergraduate degree from Oberlin College and her Masters of Nonprofit Management from Case Western Reserve University.


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