Professional Background

Parker has spent the past 32 years working in philanthropy and nonprofit cause related work. During that time, he has served in a variety of capacities, from grassroots organizer and non-profit executive director to business leader and grant maker. His expertise spans a broad range of issues from early childhood development and education reform to environmental protection and social and economic justice.

Working with dozens of different foundations, from small family foundations to some of the nation’s largest foundations such as the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Parker has helped shape their strategic plans, giving priorities, communications strategies, and supported their priority grantees. Parker enjoys working with philanthropists and nonprofits to help them take their nascent ideas or programs, develop an appropriate plan for growth, and nurture the model into a successful vehicle for positive social change. Currently, Parker is managing two different funder collaboratives with 20-30 foundations in each, providing strategic counsel and planning as well as facilitation and guidance.

While serving as Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of Fenton Communications, the nation’s largest public interest communications strategy agency, he successfully led the firm wide transformation from a traditional PR firm to an integrated communications company.

Early in his career he co-founded UPNET, the Utah Progressive Network, bringing together leaders in the environmental, labor, LGBT, women’s and social justice movements to more effectively organize for progress across their respective issues.

He designed and managed a national fellowship program for the Public Interest Research Groups, annually recruiting, training and managing approximately 25-30 young organizers to advocate for environmental protections in states across the country.

All of these experiences have made him comfortable with change and exploring new ideas and strategies to help philanthropic and nonprofit leaders find ways to accelerate progress towards greater social impact.

Parker is a graduate of Stanford University with a B.A. in U.S. History. When not working he enjoys open water swimming, surfing, skiing, hiking and helping his young daughter with her dance routines.