Susan Balbas is a community organizer, nonprofit leader, and philanthropic strategist who has played a pivotal role in advancing Indigenous-led philanthropy and community development across the Pacific Northwest. She is the founder of the Na’ah Illahee Fund, an Indigenous women-led organization established to support Native leadership, climate justice, and regenerative community economies.
Over her career, Balbas has helped launch and strengthen several influential Indigenous institutions, including the Potlatch Fund and the Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA) in Portland, where she previously served as Executive Director. She has also held leadership and advisory roles across the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors and has served on boards including the Sightline Institute, Washington Progress Alliance, and The Whidbey Institute, contributing to regional conversations on sustainability, equity, and social justice.
She was honored with the Native Action Network Enduring Spirit Award in 2022 for her contributions to Indigenous leadership and community empowerment.
Today, Balbas supports development and philanthropic partnerships for Salmon Returns, a bioregional initiative working across Pacific salmon watersheds to mobilize capital for Indigenous- and community-led ecological restoration, self-determination, and regenerative economies. Her work continues to center Indigenous leadership, cultural knowledge, and community-driven solutions in building regenerative futures across the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
