Allison leads the foundation’s communications strategies to tell the story of how we work with communities, engage philanthropists, and build relationships to create a more equitable region.
Personal Philanthropic Interests
and Passions
- Early childhood development
- Racial equity
- Indigenous rights
- Equitable educational and economic opportunities
Allison takes complex social issues and works to distill their many layers into messages and stories to shift mindsets. She believes progress cannot happen without effective communications, and to be effective, we must understand people in their full humanity. With more than 20 years of communications experience, she has worked as a consultant, in the nonprofit sector, and on multiple cross-sector initiatives focused on issues including early learning, education, native advocacy, and poverty.
Born and raised on O’ahu, Allison has worked in both King and Snohomish counties, as well as in Hawai’i, for organizations including Partnership for Learning, Hawai’i Institute for Public Affairs (consultant), and United Way of Snohomish County where she was the Director of Communications and Equity and Interim President and CEO.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in marketing from the University of Oregon, earned a social media and technologies certificate from the University of Washington, and is a proud 2021 graduate of Racing to Equity’s Transformational Leadership Institute for Healing, Liberation, and Racial Equity cohort.
Yoga, running, and music help to bring balance to her days, which are also filled with family activities and lots of coffee.