Kirsten Kilchenstein, VP of Donor Relations at The Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) leads a statewide Donor Relations department comprised of nearly 1,000 advised funds, with a total value of more than $580 million. OCF’s mission is to improve the lives of all Oregonians through the power of philanthropy, and OCF works with individuals, families, businesses and organizations to create charitable funds that support the community causes they care about.
Kirsten directs 15 philanthropy experts who support Oregon families, businesses and individuals at every stage of their giving journey—through their advised funds and through OCF’s Family Giving Center. This dynamic team facilitates families in navigating complex intergenerational, succession, governance, grantmaking and family dynamics issues. Working alongside families, the team creates innovative, community-based solutions to address Oregon issues.
Kirsten’s training in interpersonal communication, combined with her passion for helping people find meaning through their giving, fuels her work with OCF families. She finds inspiration in the many stories of generous Oregonians who step forward in large and small ways to strengthen communities through their philanthropy. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and a Master of Arts degree in Conflict Resolution and is a certified practitioner of mediation and multi-generational family giving.