Liz McDonough

Rooted Program Coordinator

Liz McDonough (she/her) is driven by a vision of a future that is environmentally, economically, and socially just and by the belief that reimagining "how things have always been done" is often the first step toward getting there.

At the Oakland Fund, Liz serves as Program Coordinator for Rooted, supporting educators as they search for stable, affordable housing and helping carry the program's mission into the day-to-day realities of the teachers it serves.

Liz has long been invested in community-centered work. Before joining the Oakland Fund, Liz spent three years as a project manager at ARC Alternatives, a sustainable energy consulting firm, helping cities, counties, universities, and school districts across California plan green energy transitions and successfully install over $50 million in renewable energy infrastructure. Prior to that, she taught first grade at Hoover Elementary School in Oakland Unified School District. Earlier in her career, Liz also worked as a research assistant with LiKEN (Livelihoods Knowledge Exchange Network), supporting disaster-planning research for sovereign tribal nations, and as a journalism assistant with Internews' Earth Journalism Network, supporting indigenous investigative journalists' coverage of environmental issues.

Liz graduated from UC Santa Barbara, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Environmental Studies. She also holds a California Teaching Credential and Master’s in Education from National University. Outside of work, Liz can be found rollerskating, reading,

playing Scrabble, and planning her next road trip.