LiLi Liu joined Inatai in 2019 as a program officer and continues to work closely with organizations. As portfolio director, she develops and implements grantmaking portfolios that prioritize representative leadership, demonstrate our values, and support community-based initiatives.
She has a deep background in community development, government, and philanthropy and draws on her past experiences working with nonprofits to ensure people who live, work, and lead in their communities are supported in designing solutions that address their needs. Before Inatai, LiLi worked at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation where she spent 11 years developing funding strategies to address community priorities and ensure equitable outcomes for students across Washington. Prior to that, she led learning and evaluation efforts for the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Making Connections Initiative in the White Center & Boulevard Park neighborhoods of South King County, and supported family and youth programs through the City of Seattle Human Services Department.
Growing up in the Seattle area, LiLi witnessed her parents making themselves available to support other Chinese and Taiwanese immigrant families in accessing vital resources like health, education, and employment, which deeply shaped her desire to give back to the community. She earned her BS from the University of Washington and MPH from John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Outside of work, LiLi serves on the board of OneAmerica Votes, and enjoys reading, gardening, and traveling with her family.