– New vice president to help guide 35th anniversary and fundraising strategy –

PORTLAND, Ore. – April 27, 2026 – Ecotrust has hired Patrick Tran as its Vice President of Development and Communications. Not only is Tran the first Asian American to hold this role, he is joining Ecotrust during a milestone year for the organization and while the broader nonprofit industry faces funding challenges through federal reductions and a shifting philanthropic landscape. At a time when leadership in communications and development is more critical than ever, Tran brings more than 15 years of equity-focused leadership in philanthropy and community-driven storytelling.

Tran brings deep leadership that will shape and elevate Ecotrust’s 35th anniversary celebration, while partnering closely with Ecotrust’s fellow leaders to guide the organization’s fundraising strategy. His experience strengthens the organization’s deep commitment to community, economic, and environmental resilience across its service region, from southeast Alaska to northern California.

“Ecotrust has a really great history of long-time partnerships, and partnering with local communities who know what the problems are and know the best solutions is crucial for equitable outcomes,” says Tran. “That is why I love working in the nonprofit space. If you are not part of dominant culture and experience the systemic effects of being othered, connection becomes even more important.”

Most recently, he was the Director of Development and Communications at ELSO Inc., a Portland-based nonprofit, where he oversaw integrated fundraising and communications in Oregon and Texas. Previously, he worked at Portland’s Lan Su Chinese Garden, where as Vice President of Philanthropy, he led a multiyear philanthropy plan. Since beginning his role at Ecotrust at the start of the year, Patrick has been working closely with Ecotrust’s leadership and board of directors to strengthen the organization’s fundraising and storytelling strategies, while leading Ecotrust’s communications and development department. 

Tran is an active civic leader, serving as board chair of the APANO Action Fund, a board member of Portland Queer Arts Foundation, and Vice President of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. He currently chairs the Sponsorship Committee for Taste for Equity. His equity-focused approach comes from both lived and professional experiences.

“Equity and anti-oppression have guided every chapter of my career and community work. I focus on turning equity from a value statement into an active practice: redistributing resources and shifting power,” says Tran, referencing his experience serving on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committees that helped reverse national anti-LGBTQ+ membership policies at Scouting America, the organization where he began his philanthropy career.  

A second-generation Vietnamese American, Tran grew up in West Texas, raised by his parents who immigrated as refugees from Vietnam, and he has lived in Portland since 2018. An alumni of Portland Business Chamber’s Leadership Portland, his accolades include recognition in Portland Business Journal’s 40 under 40, and he will serve as a returning judge for the Journal’s Philanthropy Summit this year. He is also a founder of the Queer League of Dodgeball in Portland.