Rusty Stahl

Rusty Stahl is the foremost advocate for the nonprofit workforce. Stahl proudly serves as Founder, President and CEO of Fund the People. Founded in 2014, Fund the People works toward an equitable, effective, and enduring civil society by promoting investment in America’s nonprofit workforce. 

Stahl completed R&D for Fund the People through concurrent Fellowships at NYU’s Wagner School of Public Service and at Tides.

A serial social entrepreneur, Rusty previously served as Founding Executive Director of Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy (EPIP), the professional association of young and new foundation professionals. During his tenure, Stahl helped educate the next generation of philanthropic leaders and shape a more diverse, multigenerational foundation field. He initiated unique educational programs, including EPIP’s Philanthropology program, Professional Development Fund for people of color in the EPIP community, and highly-regarded National Conference. At EPIP he established Generating Change, a research initiative that was the predecessor to Fund the People.

Prior to EPIP, Rusty served as a Program Associate at the Ford Foundation, where he supported grantmaking to strengthen philanthropy, the nonprofit sector and social justice movements.

Stahl holds an M.A. in Philanthropic Studies from Indiana University. Rusty has served on several nonprofit boards, including that of Jews for Racial and Economic Justice (JFREJ) and Idealist.org. He has also served on advisory committees for the Council on Foundations, Independent Sector, Indiana University, Grand Valley State University, and the Nonprofit Workforce Coalition. Born and raised in Philadelphia, PA, Rusty now lives in Beacon, NY.