Niyati Desai

Niyati Desai is an experienced professional in community engagement and grant management, currently serving as the Director of Grants & Funder Impact at Ecotrust since March 2024, where responsibilities include overseeing funder relationships and grant development to promote equity and environmental well-being. Prior to this role, Niyati held the position of Director of Community Engagement at The Oregon Community Foundation from March 2020 to August 2023, managing a $15M grant portfolio aimed at increasing access for diverse communities. Niyati also worked as Program Director for Community Outreach and Engagement at OHSU, directing a $10M initiative to address cancer health disparities. Earlier experience includes managing the Soul Food project at Nextcourse and serving as an Adjunct Faculty member and Internship Program Director at the California Institute of Integral Studies. Niyati holds a Master of Arts in Integrative Health/Nutrition from the California Institute of Integral Studies and a Bachelor's degree in Cultural Anthropology from the University of Colorado Boulder.