Rebecca Bear: President & CEO
Seattle, WA – Rebecca Bear, a leader in expanding access to outdoor recreation, parks and open spaces, has been appointed President & CEO of the Seattle Parks Foundation (SPF), an organization that advocates on behalf of parks and public spaces throughout Seattle. Bear brings 25 years of expertise building and scaling organizations and community programs nationwide, extensive fundraising and partnership experience, and a deep commitment to encouraging diverse communities to engage with the outdoors.
Most recently, Bear served as Director of REI Outdoor Programs and Local Community Engagement and was responsible for public/private partnerships, local advocacy, community events, and education initiatives nationwide. During her tenure, she co-led REI’s local community diversity initiatives, including a groundbreaking gender equity program.
Prior to REI, Bear was Board Chair of Passages Northwest, now YMCA BOLD & GOLD (Boys & Girls Outdoor Leadership Development), where she founded the Girls Rock! mentorship program for girls of color. She is the Founder and Co-Chair of the Coalition for Outdoor Access and has served on the Advisory Boards of the Outdoor Industry Association and the State of Colorado’s Office of Outdoor Recreation and Economic Development.
Seattle Parks Foundation (SPF), an amplifying force for philanthropy, planning, and advocacy on behalf of parks and public spaces throughout Seattle, is a fiscal sponsor to 80 community partners across the city. SPF works to create an accessible and connected system of public space for the health and happiness of all people and is committed to supporting parks in historically marginalized communities.
