Structure & Leadership

Learn more about our unique hybrid model and organizational format

Ecotrust is a dynamic organization. We bring together the flexibility of a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization alongside for-profit subsidiaries, and for-purpose properties to achieve our mission, build a more resilient business model, and achieve resilience for our region. Through leadership, collaboration, and this diverse array of resources, our projects, buildings, and investments are activated to bring about a more just, prosperous, and climate smart future.

group of people (roughly 30 - 50) posing and smiling

Ecotrust board and staff, Summer 2024. Photo credit: FLI Social 

Fostering Leadership

At Ecotrust, we foster leadership at every level of our organization. Our Board of Directors manages our Executive Director who collaborates and consults staff leadership teams to direct our programmatic and organizational initiatives. Our properties and investment vehicles are guided by the leadership of the Natural Capital Holdings Board.

We are an increasingly multiracial organization. We center equity and utilize anti-racist framing through our hiring practices, internal management, and programmatic strategies to recognize and support the leadership of individuals and communities most impacted by systemic oppression, inside our organization and beyond.  Read more about our efforts at Equity at Ecotrust

people around table with blue table cloth that reads "Ecotrust", sunny green garden, smiling

Ecotrust staff and board members gather at the Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA) for an Earth Day garden volunteer event in spring 2025. Photo credit: Jason Hill

Ecotrust board member Cat Goughnour (left) speaks to Ecotrust staff while Executive Director Ronda Rutledge looks on. Photo credit: FLI Social

In addition to our Staff and Board, we are honored to have six board committees.

Executive Committee

Staffed by Ronda Rutledge

Cat Goughnour, Chair

Megan Colwell

Kay Little, Jr.

Afton Walsh

Capital & Fundraising Committee

Staffed by Lily Abood & Ronda Rutledge

Afton Walsh, Chair

Jaime Arredondo

Ali Davis

Michael Dyer

Finance & Audit Committee

Staffed by Nathan Kadish & Ronda Rutledge

Megan Colwell, Chair

Rob Allen

Bobbie Conner

Lisa Mensah

Esther Park

Shima Salehi

Natural Capital Holdings Board

Staffed by Nathan Kadish

Kay Little, Jr., Chair

Ali Davis

Shauna Noah

Ronda Rutledge*

Dave Tovey

CDE Advisory Board

Staffed by Olivia Rebanal, Neal Sacon, & Lisa Shimabukuro

Pia Chock

Ed Davis

Ron Grzywinski

Cobi Lewis

Susan Masten

Antone Minthorn

Grant Munro

Dee Randall

Amber Schulz-Oliver

Johnny Sundstrom

CDE Investments Committee

Staffed by Olivia Rebanal, Neal Sacon, & Lisa Shimabukuro

Ron Grzywinski

Nathan Kadish

Olivia Rebanal

Neal Sacon

Amber Schulz-Oliver

Gabe Sheopships

Activating Resources

Over the course of more than 30 years, Ecotrust has built and stewarded properties and investment vehicles to expand our nonprofit’s mission-driven work and to support partners who are creating economic, social, and environmental well being in our region.

Today, we continue leveraging these resources to build regional resilience in the context of a changing climate, support socially and ecologically sound lands and waters management, and make meaningful progress toward building intergenerational wealth. These include:

Community Investments*

Endowment Funds*

Natural Capital Center*

New Markets Tax Credits

The Redd on Salmon Street*

*Governed by the Natural Capital Holdings Board of Managers

We invite you to share your interest and ideas about how these resources might support your work or community via our Partner with us form.

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