Only 7% of philanthropic dollars goes toward rural America, and our guest today is working to change that.  

Today our CEO Lesli Allison sits down with Erin Borla, executive director of the Roundhouse Foundation in Sisters, Oregon. Erin’s helping reimagine what philanthropy looks like in rural and tribal communities, through both the Foundation’s grantmaking and their podcast Funding Rural, which amplifies the voices of people driving change far from the cities where most decisions are made – and where most funding is granted.

Editors note: Roundhouse Foundation is a funder of Western Landowners Alliance.

LISTEN

About Erin Borla

Erin Borla (she/her) is an Oregonian— born and raised in Central Oregon and the granddaughter of Oregon’s own tough mother, Gert Boyle of Columbia Sportswear. For 20 years, she has worked with and for nonprofit organizations that support rural communities with innovative economic strategies. Her dedication to supporting rural spaces through listening, collaborating and open and honest sharing of ideas helps her elevate community partners throughout her work.

Borla holds a bachelor’s degree in agricultural sciences from Oregon State University and a master of tourism administration degree from The George Washington University. She completed her professional certificate in Tribal relations from Portland State University’s Mark O. Hatfield School of Government in 2022 and was recently announced as a Fellow for the National Center for Family Philanthropy.

Borla currently serves as an advisor for Center for Disaster Philanthropy, a member of the Future Council for the Society for Environmental Journalists, a member of the advisory board for the Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program managed through the Criminal Justice Commission of the State of Oregon and an advisory member of the Comprehensive Suicide Prevention program managed by the Oregon Health Authority. Throughout the past, she has served organizations such as OSU-Cascades, Sisters Park & Recreation District, Central Oregon Regional Solutions Committee, Oregon 4-H Foundation, OSU Extension Service in Deschutes County and others. She has been a trustee for the Roundhouse Foundation of Sisters, Oregon since 2014 and stepped in as the organization’s first executive director in early 2020 at a time of rapid growth for the Foundation.

The Roundhouse Foundation, founded by Borla’s mother, artist Kathy Deggendorfer, supports creative solutions across rural communities in Oregon including the nine federally recognized Tribes and 54 historic bands of Native communities that originally called this region home. The Foundation funds at the intersection of their four programmatic areas: arts and culture, environmental stewardship, education and social services.

When she isn’t road-tripping with her family, Erin enjoys riding her horse Dallas, hiking with her dog, Sherman, knitting hats for friends and family and enjoying the best new young-adult novel.

LINKS

Listen to Funding Rural

Listen to Lesli’s episode from season 1 of Funding Rural: Experts in the field with Lesli Allison

Learn more about the Roundhouse Foundation

CREDITS

The On Land Podcast is produced by the Western Landowners Alliance. We are the steady voice of landowners and land managers helping policymakers chart a course for a whole and healthy West. Your gift helps make that voice louder.

This episode was hosted by Lesli Allison, edited by Kathleen Shannon and produced by Zach Altman. 

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