The James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation Taps Nonprofit Champion as their next Executive Director
The James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation (Miller Foundation) Board of Directors announced today that they have named Carrie Hoops, a recognized nonprofit champion and lifelong Oregonian, as their next Executive Director. Ms. Hoops succeeds Martha Richards, who is retiring after more than 14 years in leadership.
For the past 32 years, Ms. Hoops has managed and led programs as well as fundraising efforts for Oregon nonprofit organizations spanning social services, arts and culture, humanities, and education, as well as a statewide nonprofit association. Her path has been one of fostering institutional growth and strength while developing volunteer and staff leaders.
Ms. Hoops served for 10 years at Literary Arts, first as Program/Development Director, and then as Executive Director. In addition, she has served as consultant, interim Executive Director and permanent Executive Director specializing in turnarounds and consulting for a wide range of local nonprofits, including Sitka Center for Art and Ecology, The Armory Opening (home of Portland Center Stage), Portland Children’s Museum (Opal School), Oregon Humanities, Oregon Ballet Theater, Artquake, and the Contemporary Dance Season at Portland State University.
Ms. Hoops served as the Executive Director of the Nonprofit Association of Oregon, where she led the shift of identity from a management support and training organization to a statewide membership association with a new advocacy emphasis. These efforts resulted in a more visible, influential, and resilient nonprofit sector in Oregon. She is known for her expertise in fundraising, earned income strategies, communications, and arts and culture programming.
Most recently she led William Temple House, a social services agency in the Portland metropolitan area, providing low/no-cost mental health counseling, a food pantry, navigation services, and a thrift store.
“I am excited to join the staff and board at the Miller Foundation, whose support for the state’s arts and education nonprofits remains critical,” said Ms. Hoops. “I look forward to advancing the Foundation’s mission and its continued commitment to artists and educators, and the solutions offered by community-based organizations in partnership with our philanthropic peers.”
Charles Putney, the Miller Foundation’s Board President said, “We are thrilled to have someone with Carrie’s experience and humanity joining the Foundation as our next Executive. Her background with nonprofit organizations, knowledge of and engagement in the landscape of issues confronting the field, and commitment to Oregon will enable the foundation to build its future with strong outreach, respect and advocacy for Oregon’s nonprofit leaders and community.”
Ms. Hoops will lead efforts currently underway to expand responsive efforts for arts and education nonprofits to develop new initiatives to support individual artists, and to collaborate with education partners supporting teaching practice and student learning. Ms. Hoops begins as Executive Director on January 17, 2023.
