When you’re given a chance to make a positive impact, don’t waste it—that belief drove Chris and Heidi Stolte to establish SFF in 2015. For them, giving back is a chance to realize their shared vision of creating an equitable and thriving future.

Heidi, a former elementary school educator and community volunteer, works to strengthen education for all students by supporting efforts that represent and deeply engage the communities and families they serve. Chris, co-founder of Tableau Software, focuses on tackling the climate crisis, applying an analytical lens to identify and support policies and technologies that will accelerate the transition to clean energy. Chris and Heidi also work to fulfill the promise of democracy by cultivating civic engagement in Washington communities.

Heidi earned her bachelor’s degree from UC San Diego as well as a teaching credential from San Jose State University. Chris earned his bachelor’s in computer science at Simon Fraser University, followed by his master’s and Ph.D. from Stanford University. Chris and Heidi moved to Seattle in 2003 and have two children.

Kim Wright was the Stolte family’s philanthropic advisor during their earliest years of giving. She then became SFF’s founding Executive Director, helping to define the foundation’s purpose and priorities. She spent nearly a decade as Director of Family Philanthropy and Philanthropic Services at Seattle Foundation, where she managed a team of philanthropic advisors and served as the primary advisor for 60+ impact-driven individuals and families. She previously served on the board of Bolder Giving and the Community Foundation’s Advancement Network (Adnet).

Born and raised in Seattle, Kim has worked in the local philanthropic sector for more than 27 years and is known for elevating and innovating the field of philanthropic advising. A former executive director and program officer, she brings nonprofit management experience and trusted community relationships to her work with SFF’s philanthropic partners. Kim currently serves as an advisor for the National Center for Family Philanthropy and a member of NCFP's Ambassador Committee. She holds bachelor’s degrees in sociology and the humanities.

Brianna Jackson has been working in the early learning and youth development field for more than 20 years. Her desire to work with—and for—children and families arose at an early age, when she began to see how some communities weren’t being given the same opportunity to thrive as others. She believes that people who are most impacted by current socio-economic challenges must be included in creating solutions to those challenges.

Prior to joining SFF, Brianna served for six years as Executive Director of Launch, a community-based nonprofit that provides equitable early learning and expanded learning opportunities for Seattle-area children ages 3 to 12. There, she developed close ties with the business and philanthropic community. She has extensive experience collaborating with various levels of government and partnering with nonprofits to develop strong relationships, connect people from diverse backgrounds, and build community consensus. Brianna recognizes the power in people coming together to make change. Proudly born and raised in Seattle, Brianna lives in Renton with her husband and two children, who inspire her to keep advocating for Washington’s children and families.

Whitney loves building connections between funders and grantee partners that help all parties meet their goals. She first got involved with grantmaking as a giving project participant with Social Justice Fund—an experience that grounded her in equitable and grantee-centric practices and has informed her professional career ever since. Whitney devises and regularly evaluates SFF’s internal systems to foster a collaborative and nimble foundation. Prior to joining SFF, Whitney served as Grants & Operations Manager at the Campion Foundation and Advocacy Fund, where she spearheaded every aspect of the grantmaking process and developed deep relationships with grantees to ensure effective partnerships and efficient communication. She also previously worked in grantmaking and administrative management with the Loom Foundation, a Seattle-based family foundation giving at the intersection of climate and equity.

Born and raised in Seattle, Whitney spent most of her childhood living on a sailboat in Shilshole Bay Marina and enjoying the beauty of the Salish Sea. She attended university in Montreal and spent five years in New York before returning to Seattle, where she now lives with her husband and child.

Karen has been engaged on climate and clean energy policy for the past 15 years in a combination of government, think-tank, and philanthropic roles. Prior to joining SFF, she served the Heising-Simons Foundation as a program officer for climate and clean energy, leading on transportation and federal policy strategies, and integrating equity into those strategies. As a senior analyst at Climate Policy Initiative, Karen jointly led the U.S. Program to analyze and recommend policies to lower the costs of low-carbon economy transition. As a senior policy advisor in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Transportation and Air Quality, she focused on biofuels regulation and led the office’s international transportation team and strategy. She also co-founded a nonprofit to address the challenges faced by chronically and terminally ill people in accessing compassionate use of experimental medical treatments.

Karen earned a Ph.D. in ecology and evolutionary biology from Cornell University and a bachelor’s degree in environmental science and policy from Duke University. She was born and raised in many U.S. cities and in Australia.