Rob Hope
Senior Initiative Officer and Director, ReWork the Bay
Why do you do what you do?
Through my upbringing and many years of working with people who are incarcerated and coming home from jail, I have developed an unwavering belief in the humanity and potential of all people, and that everyone has a right to feel secure in their home and community. I transitioned from a career in community-based direct service organizations to my current role because I think our education and training systems can do more to increase economic opportunity for people historically left out of our region’s prosperity, and philanthropy felt like a good vehicle to fuel that change.
What drew you to the foundation?
I was excited to join the foundation because of our explicit focus on racial and economic equity — it pushes us to ask the hard questions and set a higher bar for our work and the sector at large. I am also on a lifelong journey to be an effective ally to people of color and other oppressed communities, and enjoy working with and supporting other white people on their allyship journey. The foundation provides a powerful platform to do that work.
How would you describe your role?
I lead a collaborative of funders seeking to make the Bay Area’s workforce ecosystem work better for low-wage workers of color.
Are you involved in any volunteer activities?
I serve on the board of directors of CompassPoint Nonprofit Services.