Fidelma has been a leader at the compelling intersection of philanthropy, social enterprise, and community investment for more than 20 years. As an executive leader and Board member, she has focused on creating impactful civic-corporate partnerships. Most recently she served as Chief Philanthropy Officer for Seattle Foundation, one of the largest community foundations in the United States. Throughout her tenure in the non-profit arena, many national and international organizations have sought her guidance, leadership, and financial acumen. Fidelma’s Board experience includes being chair of the National Alliance for Media Arts & Culture, Grantmakers in Film & Electronic Media, and was appointed by Seattle’s Mayor to serve on the influential Seattle Arts Commission.
A native of Ireland, her early career started in the technology field at Microsoft's European Headquarters in Dublin. From there, she emigrated from the Emerald Isle to the Emerald City to join Microsoft's Redmond campus where she worked on the early releases of the Office suite of products.
Fidelma is a graduate of Dublin’s College of Commerce where she studied Marketing & Communications and was an inaugural fellow in the Executive Leadership in the Nonprofit Arts from Stanford University’s Graduate Business School.
