Philanthropy Northwest
Jill Nishi
Philanthropy Northwest
After a nationwide search, NPAG is pleased to announce that Jill Nishi has been named CEO of Philanthropy Northwest.
Jill Nishi (she/her) is a seasoned philanthropic and public sector leader recognized for bringing people, resources, and ideas together with the aim of building greater racial and economic equity. She brings 20+ years leadership experience, most recently as principal of an independent consulting firm, JTN Consulting, working with mission-driven organizations to further their impact. She formerly served as Director of Strategy Planning & Management and Chief of Staff for the U.S. Program at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, where she led the development and execution of programmatic and operational initiatives in support of the foundation’s early learning, K-12, and higher education strategies to increase postsecondary credentials among students historically furthest from opportunity. Jill also led the foundation’s U.S. Libraries Program, a digital equity initiative dedicated to bringing technology access to communities through the nation’s public libraries.
Prior to joining the Gates Foundation, Jill served in several leadership positions in the public sector. She was appointed by Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels as director of the City of Seattle’s Office of Economic Development; and previously served as deputy director of the Washington State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development. Early in her career she worked as a senior management consultant for Deloitte in the firm’s public sector consulting practice.
Jill holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Puget Sound, and a master's degree in public affairs from Princeton University's School of Public and International Affairs. She currently serves as co-chair of the Board of Trustees for the Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience and is a trustee emeritus of the University of Puget Sound.
In her new role, Jill brings a proven record of leading high-impact, inclusive initiatives and a gift for building consensus with diverse stakeholders. Her highly collaborative and innovative leadership style is grounded in a deep commitment to racial equity and the Pacific Northwest.