Karen Chase

Four Way Community Foundation Board Member
Dates of service: 2026-current

Karen Chase is a longtime Oregon community leader whose career has been dedicated to advancing public health, affordable housing, rural development, environmental sustainability, and equitable community investment. With advanced degrees in public health and business administration, Karen has spent decades bringing together nonprofits, government agencies, community organizations, and industry partners to create collaborative solutions that strengthen underserved communities across Oregon. In her current role as Senior Community Strategies Manager for Energy Trust of Oregon, she works directly with community-based organizations and local leaders to expand energy access, support rural economic development, and design programs that meet the unique needs of diverse communities throughout the state.

Karen’s nonprofit leadership includes serving on numerous boards and advisory committees focused on health equity, affordable housing, education, conservation, and rural opportunity, including the Oregon Public Health Association, Josephine County Housing Council, Siskiyou Field Institute, and the Illinois Valley Community Development Organization. Throughout her career, she has championed initiatives that improve housing access, create workforce opportunities, support environmental stewardship, and build stronger partnerships between public and nonprofit sectors. Her collaborative leadership style and commitment to service continue to make a lasting impact in communities across Southern Oregon and beyond.