Elana Wien is a philanthropic advisor to individuals, families and foundations. A trusted community leader and nonprofit executive with over 20 years of experience, Elana is known for her thoughtful, creative approach to philanthropy and social impact. She is committed to supporting individuals, families and foundations in being strategic and effective investors in their communities, while crafting legacies that endure.
As inaugural Executive Director of the SRE Network (safety, respect, equity) from 2019-2023, Elana successfully brought the startup initiative to its mezzanine stage, serving as national thought leader on issues of gender, workplace culture, and nonprofit best practices. She built out a talented team of staff and advisors, diversified the board, developed organizational infrastructure, completed a rebrand, completed an ambitious three-year strategic plan, and oversaw the distribution of over $5 million in grants. She currently serves as SRE Senior Advisor.
Previously, Elana served as vice president for the Center for Designed Philanthropy at the Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles where she led grant programs and provided philanthropic counsel to individuals and families, overseeing $100 million in grants benefiting hundreds of nonprofits over the course of her tenure. Previous roles have included assistant regional director of the Anti-Defamation League Los Angeles and consultant to nonprofit clients including a regional medical center, a national early childhood think tank, a major LA County community clinic system, and a youth homeless services agency.
Elana graduated magna cum laude from UC Berkeley with a bachelor’s degree in geography and received a master’s degree in anthropology from the Universidad de las Americas as a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar to Mexico. Elana is a Schusterman Foundation Fellow, a Wexner Field Fellow and a graduate of the Coro SoCal Women in Leadership Cohort 2. Born and raised in Los Angeles, she currently resides in Ventura, California with her wife and children, having also lived in the Bay Area, Washington, D.C., NYC, Brazil, Mexico and Spain.