YNPN Portland Leadership Team
About the YNPN Portland Board
YNPN Portland is an all-volunteer organization that activates emerging leaders by connecting them with resources, people, and ideas.
As YNPN Portland’s leadership team, members of the Board set the tone for the organization’s work. The YNPN Portland Board is charged with organizational and financial oversight, fiduciary responsibility, and strategic planning and implementation for YNPN Portland. Board Members are responsible for making decisions, delegating work, and assuring that decisions are carried out in the manner intended.
The YNPN Portland Board is a working board. In other words, Board Members are not only expected to perform their fiduciary and strategic duties, but they are also responsible for carrying out decisions and implementing ideas in partnership with volunteers and committee members.
Here are our current Board Volunteers!
Kaleema A.F. Murphy| Board Chair| She/Her(s)
United Way of the Columbia-Willamette | Corporate Relations Executive
Hometown: Portland, OR
Proud owner of three Health Science degrees | Epic fantasy writer and reader | Moderate sports enthusiast
What I love about Portland: "It is a densely-packed melting pot of out-of-towners, recent transplantees, and hidden native Portlanders. You'll never know who you'll meet! Locale-wise we are so amazingly close to beaches and the coast, mountains and hiking trails, plains and the desert - so we never run out of things to do year-round!"
Why I'm involved in YNPN Portland: "YNPN is a tremendous organization that allows individuals to foster longstanding relationships, both personally and professionally, with like-minded nonprofit people. The ripples of partnership, networking and connection, will always be a boon to your social network and to your work portfolio."
And did I mention...? "My fiancé and I have tried, at least five times, to beat the Halo: Masterchief Collection on Legendary. Tips would be helpful. Also, how am I supposed to live now that Telltale Games is no more?"
Ali Benson | Board Vice Chair | She/Her(s)
Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation | Data for Impact Project Manager
Hometown: Orange, CA
Aspiring Polyglot | Podcast Lover | Vegetarian Recipe Tester
What I love about Portland: “I love Portland's small, distinct neighborhoods. Moving to a new part of town can feel like moving to a new city sometimes. I also appreciate being only a few hours away from mountains, desert, coastline, forests, farmlands, waterfalls, and wine country.”
Why I'm involved with YNPN Portland: "Many emerging nonprofit professionals don't get the formal training or professional development opportunities they need to be successful in their roles or to grow professionally. Organizations like YNPN contribute to the strength and vibrancy of our sector's future leaders, and that's an inspiring and important call to action for me."
And did I mention…?: “I take great pride in cultivating a repository of random and often useless facts."
Gina Sander | Secretary | She/Her(s)
Camp Fire Columbia, Camp Namanu | Camp Director
Hometown: Portland, OR
Craft Queen | Musical Lover | Portland Born & Raised
What I love about Portland: "Portland is mix of some of my favorite things, great food, great art, and the great outdoors. I feel so lucky to live in a vibrant city within driving distance of lakes, oceans, mountains, and incredible forests."
Why I'm involved in YNPN Portland: "I am thrilled to support an organization that provides an inclusive space for young professionals to collaborate, innovate, and grow. Non-profit work is the backbone of our community and the employees and volunteers of those organizations are vital to their success. By supporting YNPN and its members, I know that I am supporting a community that will strengthen our city and its values."
Callie Gisler | Marketing Co-Chair | She/Her
Coffeehouse Communications, Principal and CEO
Hometown: Macleay, Oregon
Corgi Mom | Over-Caffeinated Optimist | Consultant and Coach
What I love about Portland… As a life-long country girl, Portland is the perfect “big city” experience. I love the unique perspectives, cultures, and experiences the city blends together. Plus, the amazing food and social permission to wear my Birkenstocks year-round aren’t bad either.
Why I’m involved with YNPN Portland… After working with and for some of Oregon’s amazing nonprofit organizations in the past eight years, I was thrilled to find an organization so dedicated to creating opportunities, connection, and community for young professionals in the space.
And did I mention… I’m the obsessed dog mom who created an Instagram account for her two Corgis and drinks iced coffee every day of the year.
Erin Newton| Marketing Co-Chair | She/Her
Self | Boss
Hometown: San Jose, CA
I love to travel | Powell’s Books is one of my favorite places on earth | I will take any excuse to wear a costume
What I love about Portland: "I love that our most beautiful steel suspension bridge is bright green. I love that Portlanders know we’re not perfect, but we’re trying to get better. And I love that Salt & Straw is still coming up with original flavors."
Why I’m involved with YNPN Portland: "I am involved with YNPN Portland because I love to meet new people who want to commiserate and rejoice about being a young person in the nonprofit sector. I believe that together we can make our lives, our work, and our city at least a little better by being in each other’s lives."
And did I mention...? "If the topic for Trivia Night is Harry Potter, you definitely want me on your team."
Alex | At-Large, Strategic Partnerships | She/Her(s)
Hometown: West Des Moines, IA
World Traveler | Urban Gardener | Political Junkie
What I love about Portland: "Bike amenities and vegetarian food!"
Why I'm involved in YNPN Portland: "I want to help local nonprofit professionals grow in their careers and apply their talents to improving our community."
And did I mention...? "I first came to Portland at the start of a 4290-mile solo bicycle ride across the country."
Jennifer Justus | At-Large | She/Her(s)
Clackamas County | Classification & Compensation Business Partner
Hometown: Fort Collins, CO
Intrepid Cyclist | Enthusiastic Cat Mom | Lifelong volunteer
What I love about Portland: "I love being able to go on a bicycle ride to the gorge, walk to foodcarts, and watch a movie at a locally-owned theater all in the same day, and have an amazing community to enjoy it with."
Why I'm involved in YNPN Portland:"I love building and being part of community. Being new to the nonprofit sector, I feel incredibly fortunate to have found others who share a belief in the ability of others to change and to grow. YNPN is a place where I feel like I can give as much as I learn, and to build new personal and professional friendships."
And did I mention...? "I have a black belt in taekwondo, and I am a teacher for women’s self-defense classes. I love being able to pass along some amazing skills and empower others!"