Mariam Wakili

Senior Director of Fundraising and Operations

Mariam Wakili (she/her), Senior Director of Fundraising and Operations, is a movement organizer and entrepreneurial impact strategist with a track record of building durable philanthropic strategies, strengthening organizational infrastructure, and advancing regenerative public–private partnerships. Her work centers on aligning philanthropic investment with measurable outcomes that improve prosperity, safety, and quality of life for Oakland residents—particularly in communities that have been historically underinvested.

At The Oakland Fund, Mariam leads strategic fundraising, partnership development, and operational planning, positioning the organization as a trusted intermediary between philanthropy, government, and community-based partners. She plays a key role in expanding institutional support and stewarding capital in ways that reflect both public accountability and community priorities.

Before joining The Oakland Fund, Mariam served as the Director of Philanthropic Partnerships at PolicyLink, an Oakland based national racial equity institution focusing on advancing a nation where all can thrive through policy advocacy and strategic partnerships. At PolicyLink, she scaled and diversified philanthropic revenue, built operating and fiscal sponsorship infrastructure, and secured six and seven figure investments to scale evidence-based policy initiatives at the state and national level during a period of rapid growth for the organization..

Previously, Mariam was the first National Development Officer at GRID Alternatives, the nation’s largest nonprofit solar installer and a leading organization on low-income solar policy. She led national fundraising across single-family, multifamily, tribal, and community solar programs, built the organization’s foundation portfolio from the ground up, and served in a leadership role on the organization’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee.

Mariam holds a Master of Public Administration from Portland State University and a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition from San Diego State University. She lives in Oakland with her young son, and her approach to stewardship is shaped by both professional experience and a deep commitment to place, community partnership, and long-term systems change. Outside of work, you can find her hiking the Oakland hills or at the Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Marin County.