Adopted with her twin from South Korea and raised in Maryland and rural Oregon, Cheney is a graduate of Ione High School in Morrow County and the University of Oregon. Prior to joining The Collins Foundation, she served as the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Manager at Meyer Memorial Trust, leading the organization’s internal work to advance equity. She lives in Northeast Portland.
Beyond her leadership in Oregon philanthropy, Cheney’s experiences across a broad range of sectors and issues have shaped her holistic approach to systems change and racial justice work. She has worked as a farmworker, an advocate for survivors of domestic violence, a health educator, a nonprofit consultant and trainer, and a policy and community engagement manager for the Oregon Health Authority’s Office of Equity and Inclusion. Over the years, she has also served as a board member at Seeding Justice (formerly the McKenzie River Gathering Foundation), the Hambleton Project, and the Oregon Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence, and currently serves on the board of the Pride Foundation.
“One of the great pleasures and privileges of FBO’s collaborative approach is learning alongside some of Oregon’s most brilliant and compassionate philanthropic leaders—and Carol is no exception.” said Whitney Grubbs, Executive Director of FBO. “With her commitment to underserved Oregonians across the state, her incredible breadth of experience and relationships, and her kind, candid, and joyful approach, Carol will strengthen our shared work to accelerate progress and justice for children.”
Cheney joined The Collins Foundation, an FBO member foundation for over 15 years, as CEO in April 2021. She succeeds Cynthia Addams, who retired after more than two decades of courageous leadership at the Foundation and just over a decade of service on FBO’s Board of Directors.