Skip to content
Log in
Become a Member
Donate

Shelley Trott has been named the Foundation’s first Executive Director and will assume the role on September 1.

(OAKLAND, CA—August 12, 2024) The Kenneth Rainin Foundation is elated to announce the appointment of Shelley Trott as its first Executive Director. This new position will implement the Foundation’s vision and oversee its effective and impactful grantmaking and operations. Shelley has held multiple leadership roles at the Foundation during her 15-year tenure, including Chief Program Officer for the past three years. The Executive Director role takes effect September 1 and reports to Chief Executive Officer Jen Rainin, who will continue overseeing the Foundation’s overall strategic direction.

“It has been a true pleasure working with Shelley since she joined as one of our first staff members in 2009,” said Jen Rainin. “Shelley has been instrumental in shaping our culture and values while deepening our understanding of the potential impact of philanthropy. She is a visionary and inclusive leader, with integrity and a deep commitment to the Foundation’s mission and vision. It’s been a remarkable journey of service and I’m grateful for her partnership. I am confident that she will continue to thrive in this new role.”

Shelley first joined the Rainin Foundation as Grants Manager, working her way up to Arts Program Officer and then Director of Arts Strategy and Ventures, before becoming Chief Program Officer. Her background as a dancer and media artist influenced her entrepreneurial spirit and collaborative style, and contributed to the Foundation’s impressive history of accomplishments in the Arts, Education and Health over the past 15 years. Shelley’s career highlights include:

  • Her innovative approach and creativity in securing and stewarding affordable spaces for arts and culture organizations in the Bay Area cemented the Foundation’s reputation for taking smart risks and fostering strong collaboration.
  • She championed and advanced the Foundation’s diversity, equity and inclusion work, and partnered with staff in embedding trust-based philanthropy practices aimed at balancing the power dynamics between funders and nonprofits.
  • ·She recently joined forces with peer funders to create the first Common App for the Arts. This tool streamlines the application process, saving time and resources for grant-seeking arts and culture organizations.
  • She fostered collaboration across departments to design the first foundation-wide learning and evaluation initiative.
  • She partnered with Rainin Foundation leaders to co-create our inaugural Program-Related Investment Fund, further enhancing the Foundation’s resources for the public good.

“My work has given me profound insight into how philanthropy supports a just society,” said Shelley. “I’ve built strong connections with our staff, nonprofits, peer funders, and government leaders based on mutual respect and accountability. Together, we introduced groundbreaking ideas and achieved impactful solutions. As we move into this next chapter, I’m excited to build on our accomplishments and feel deeply honored by this opportunity.”

Shelley was named a 2023 Change Leaders in Philanthropy Fellow and received the prestigious Robert W. Scrivner Award from the Council on Foundations in 2014, in recognition of her outstanding creativity in grantmaking at the individual level. She is currently Board President of the Community Arts Stabilization Trust (CAST), an organization she helped launch, and is the Founding Board President of Immersive Arts Alliance.

Read Shelley’s bio to learn more about her background and her philanthropic work.

About the Kenneth Rainin Foundation

Kenneth Rainin Foundation is a family foundation that collaborates with creative thinkers in the Arts, Education and Health. We believe in taking smart risks to achieve breakthroughs. In 2024, the Foundation is celebrating 15 years of formal grantmaking that supports visionary artists in the Bay Area, creates opportunities for Oakland’s youngest learners, and funds researchers on the forefront of scientific discoveries. The Foundation has invested over $147 million in grants since 2009. More at krfoundation.org.