Marisa Cooper

About Marisa Cooper

Passionate social impact and ESG leader with 15+ years of experience designing and scaling programs at the intersection of philanthropy, education, climate, and community impact. I specialize in helping organizations turn values into measurable outcomes through strategic programming, corporate philanthropy, and cross‑sector collaboration.As a nonprofit CEO and former executive director, I have led complex organizations through transformation—overseeing strategy, operations, grantmaking, and culture change while centering equity, stakeholder engagement, and workforce development. My work spans corporate and community partnerships, employee volunteerism, grant and scholarship cycles, and large‑scale professional learning for educators and frontline staff.I bring deep experience in- Corporate social impact strategy, philanthropic advising, and high‑impact program design- Grantmaking, scholarship and sponsorship portfolios, impact measurement, and reporting to executives and boards- Community and member engagement, events, and convenings that drive learning, visibility, and retention- DEI, coaching, and professional development, including statewide educator training and internal talent development pathways- Cross‑functional leadership in remote, matrixed environments, aligning operations, fundraising, and communications around shared OKRs and KPIsAcross roles, I’ve rebuilt teams and brands, launched award‑winning education and climate programs, increased annual revenue and program participation, and designed evaluation systems that translate feedback and data into continuous improvement. I thrive in fast‑paced, collaborative environments where I can connect dots between strategy and execution—supporting leaders and teams to do their best work.

Experience

1. Chief Executive Officer

   PSIA-AASI Western Region

   Jan 2022 — Present · Truckee, CA, US

   Strategic CEO of a 77‑year‑old educational and professional development nonprofit serving 3,700+ members across California, Nevada, and Hawaii in a climate‑impacted industry. Lead organizational transformation with a focus on equity, workforce development, and community impact- Lead change management and operational evolution across a national c6/c3 structure, overseeing programs, HR, IT, finance, marketing, and governance for a hybrid remote team of 80 employees and 100 volunteers-Developed and implemented PSIA-AASI West’s inaugural ESG plan, aligning Board Ends, national sustainability and equity commitments, and regional operations to launch new climate and inclusion education pilots, codify sustainable event standards, and expand targeted scholarships and hardship relief for Western members- Build and manage regional and national grant and scholarship strategy, implementing due diligence and evaluation frameworks that increased measurable impact by 30%- Designed funding strategies that increased measurable scholarship impact by 30% and strengthened alignment with organizational values and equity priorities- Implemented data‑driven KPIs and evaluation systems to inform programming decisions, increase participant retention and satisfaction, and demonstrate workforce outcomes- Design and facilitate coaching‑informed leadership and professional development programs for staff, volunteers, and member instructors, strengthening performance, succession planning, and inclusive culture- Develop coaching, leadership, and professional learning experiences that embed equity, emotional intelligence, and growth mindset into organizational practices and industry impact- Represent the organization across sectors, cultivating partnerships that expand visibility, programming, and social impact.

Education

• University of California, Davis

  Bachelor of Arts - BA, Communications (minor in Anthropology)

• University of Nevada, Reno

  Master of Education - MEd, Biological Sciences