As senior community engagement manager, Altinay (she, her, hers) manages and leads the operations, support, and empowerment of PEAK’s volunteers and communities, including PEAK’s chapters and peer groups. She collaborates with volunteer chapter officers and peer group chairs to deepen and increase PEAK community engagement. The work of the chapters helps to build volunteers as leaders. A trained social worker, Altinay considers herself to be a connector of people to ideas, tools, opportunities, and resources. She is passionate about fostering strong networks and communities that promote social justice and equitable practices. Throughout her career, Altinay has worked in multiple philanthropic, higher education, and social services positions serving diverse communities, especially racial and ethnic minorities and individuals from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
Prior to joining PEAK Grantmaking, Altinay was a consultant at Equal Measure, a philanthropic services organization. Altinay served as a core team member on the evaluation capacity-building plan for the Michigan Health Endowment Fund, and Equal Measure’s evaluation of the California Endowment’s Sons & Brothers initiative. She also served as a member of the Coordination Hub team for the National Science Foundation’s INCLUDES initiative. Additionally, Altinay worked with the Pew Charitable Trusts on an initiative to improve college access and success for Hispanic immigrants.
Altinay earned her master’s degree in social work from Fordham University and bachelor’s degree in social work from Rutgers University. Altinay is an avid traveler and enjoys exploring the United States and destinations abroad. She’s also a natural organizer. Ask her about ways to organize any space! Whether in the office or at home, you can also ask her about her houseplant and tea collections.
Published articles
“Standing with Community: Chapter report from PEAK Minnesota”
“Through the Latinx Caucus, Grants Professionals Find Common Bonds Amid Diverse Experiences”
