Katie Rast

Katie manages the Community Impact Team, overseeing The Foundation’s programs by stewarding and establishing a set of strategies that will support the mission and values of the organization, as well as maximize the impact of philanthropic investments made by donors and Foundation discretionary funds.

Katie brings a wealth of programmatic expertise to The Foundation and has a proven track record of building local partnerships to enact positive change. Prior to joining The Foundation, she served as Executive Director for Fab Lab, where she worked with Massachusetts Institute of Technology and National Science Foundation to establish the first program of its kind in the region. Additionally, Rast has served as Senior Strategy Advisor for UCSD Design Lab; Program Lead for LRNG, a MacArthur Foundation-backed initiative; Director of Marketing for Cal Coast; and Manager for the General Electric Brilliant Career Lab pilot initiative on behalf of Fab Foundation, GE Foundation and Boston Public Schools.

Katie has received awards and recognition by MIT, USAID and WorldBank, San Diego Downtown Partnership, Civic San Diego, and the United Nations. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Digital Media & Society from Goddard College.