Southern Oregon Team Update

New Year. New Faces. New Opportunities. Oregon Community Foundation in Southern Oregon – Here for You

We are excited to introduce you to the passionate and dedicated team at our Medford office, working together, with you, in service to a better Oregon. Let’s foster positive change in our communities. There is so much to look forward to in 2024!

Whether you’re ready to explore ways to give, seeking funding for your projects, or are eager to lend your time, let’s work together to make an impact now.

Did you catch KOBI’s “Spirit of Community” series about OCF’s partnerships in Southern Oregon over the past 50 years? Be sure to check out these great stories that illustrate Oregonians helping Oregonians. And – coming soon to your inbox, our e-newsletter featuring examples of compelling housing solutions and the benefits of donor advised funds.

The Southern Oregon Team

Kurt Hildebrand 
Philanthropic Advisor and Regional Director
khildebrand@oregoncf.org
(541) 773-8987 

We are pleased to introduce Kurt Hildebrand, who just joined the Medford team to lead community outreach and manage relationships with donors, prospective donors, professional advisors, volunteers and community leaders. Most recently, Kurt served as executive director of Project Youth+ in Southern Oregon. He also has years of experience working in Haiti for Mennonite Central Committee and National Human Rights Defense Network. Kurt’s wealth of experience in leadership positions in development and administration, combined with his strong and longstanding ties to the Southern Oregon region, will contribute to OCF’s work in wonderful ways, and we are excited to welcome him to our team. Reach out to Kurt to talk about your charitable goals and how OCF can help you amplify the impact of your giving.

Heidi Binder
Senior Giving Strategies Officer
hbinder@oregoncf.org
(541) 773-8987

Heidi has been working with individuals, families, businesses and organizations to achieve their charitable goals at OCF since 2015. Her work focuses on stewardship for supporting organizations and life income gift donors. Prior to joining OCF, Heidi served as a program director, community mediator and facilitator and taught university-level courses. Heidi holds a master’s degree in intercultural relations from the University of the Pacific and a bachelor’s degree in French from the University of Oregon. 

Amy Drake 
Program Officer
adrake@oregoncf.org  
(541) 773-8987

As a program officer, Amy connects with community members, nonprofits, and volunteers to share OCF funding priorities and grant opportunities. Amy is committed to making connections to improve her community, and she cares deeply about making Oregon a better place for all. A Southern Oregon resident since 2011, Amy’s background includes community engagement and development work for small nonprofits. She holds a bachelor’s degree in history, with a master’s degree in museum studies. She joined OCF in 2019.  

Kiersten Hammond
Regional Office Associate
khammond@oregoncf.org
(541) 773-8987 

Having recently joined the team, Kiersten’s fresh perspective and energy are already making a positive impact. She manages the operations of the Medford office, including regional event planning. Kiersten served most recently as an English teacher at South Medford High School and previously worked as a project and media coordinator for the Oregon Writing Project at Southern Oregon University. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s in teaching from Southern Oregon University. 

Shasta Zielke
Donor Relations Officer  
szielke@oregoncf.org
(541) 842-2016

Shasta joined the OCF team in 2023. She works closely with donors in Southern Oregon to support their philanthropy and help them deepen their investment in the community by connecting them to nonprofit organizations and their amazing work. Before joining OCF, Shasta worked for over a decade to support communities through her work with various nonprofit organizations. She has deep experience in fundraising, direct service and community building.