#171 Strategies to Leverage Federal Dollars with Margi Hoffmann, State Director for USDA Rural Development Serving the State of Oregon

Margi Hoffmann is dedicated to helping nonprofits and local communities access public funding. She is leading efforts within the federal government to support community members gaining access to public funding that is often left sitting on the table.Episode Highlights:Strategies to access public funding.Ideas to simplify the application process.Margi Hoffmann Bio:Margaret Hoffmann: state director for USDA Rural Development, serving the State of Oregon.Margaret, or Margi Hoffmann, grew up on a small family farm outside of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, a small community located in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. Hoffmann left Colorado and moved to Portland, Oregon, where she received a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature.Hoffmann's professional career began working in natural resources management on federal lands. She has worked on public policy in the realms of public safety, health care, climate change, energy resilience and security, and land use. She has experience working for the public and private sector, as well as in nonprofit management.In 2012 and 2015, Oregon Governor's John Kitzhaber and Kate Brown, respectively, appointed Hoffmann to serve as Energy Policy Advisor. In this position, Hoffmann developed the first-ever 10-Year Energy Action Plan for the State of Oregon and served as the Governor's office liaison to the Oregon Public Utility Commission and Oregon Department of Energy. In addition, she served as liaison to the Pacific Coast Collaborative, a partnership between the States of California, Oregon and Washington, and the Province of British Columbia. In 2022, her work served to assist in the development of a shared Statement of Collaboration to address climate change adaptation and mitigation for the world's fifth-largest economy.After leaving the Governor's office, Hoffmann served as a senior management team member for the Farmers Conservation Alliance, a non-profit focused on modernizing irrigation infrastructure in the Western United States to benefit agricultural security and the environment. During Hoffmann's tenure, the Alliance's irrigation modernization program grew from the pilot stage to implementation across five western states and created a $1B pipeline of shovel ready irrigation modernization projects.In January 2022, Hoffmann received a Presidential appointment to continue public service as a state director for USDA Rural Development, serving the State of Oregon. She currently lives in Bend with the love of her life, Joshua Klaus, and their 4-year-old daughter, Liesl.Links:Instagram: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margi-hoffmann-a93b3656 If you are a nonprofit leader and you have a best or worst story with your experience raising money for your organization that you’d like to share, please fill out this form for a chance to be on Sybil’s podcast - https://forms.gle/buDnkCPcNUKYWh869 If you enjoyed this episode, listen to these as well:https://www.doyourgood.com/blog/Effective-Funding-Strategies-that-Work-with-Tony-DeFalcohttps://www.doyourgood.com/blog/166-Nonprofit-Challenges-and-Solutionshttps://www.doyourgood.com/blog/164-Advice-from-Nonprofits-for-DonorsCrack the Code: Sybil’s Successful Guide to PhilanthropyBecome even better at what you do as Sybil teaches you the strategies and tools you’ll need to avoid mistakes and make a career out of philanthropy.Sybil offers resources including free mini-course videos, templates, checklists, and words of advice summarized in easy to review pdfs.    Check out Sybil’s website with all the latest opportunities to learn from Sybil at https://www.doyourgood.comConnect with Do Your Goodhttps://www.facebook.com/doyourgoodhttps://www.instagram.com/doyourgoodWould you like to talk with Sybil directly?Send in your inquiries through her website https://www.doyourgood.com/ or you can email her directly at [email protected].