Liz O’Malley is the Director of Arts Strategy & Ventures at the Kenneth Rainin Foundation, where she leads the Arts Program strategic direction, grantmaking priorities and evaluation. Her work focuses on supporting a thriving Bay Area artist community and advancing a more equitable and resilient cultural ecosystem through systems change.
Liz brings more than 15 years of experience as a culture worker, dedicated to amplifying the power of art in society, increasing resources for artists and strengthening creative communities. Most recently, Liz served as a Senior Portfolio Manager at Emerson Collective where she led a national grantmaking and capacity-building program that supported artist entrepreneurs and cultural leaders working at the intersection of art and social change. Her philanthropic work is deeply informed by her experience as a nonprofit arts administrator, including leadership roles at Sundance Institute, SFFILM and the Roxie Theater. Notably, Liz helped stabilize SFFILM during the COVID-19 pandemic, supported the development of Sundance’s Catalyst film financing program and designed the strategic plan that enabled the Roxie Theater to acquire its historic building.
Liz holds a Master of Public Affairs from University of California, Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy, where her capstone project advised the City of Oakland on policies to support the sustainability and anti-displacement of artists and arts enterprises. She earned a BA in Theatre with an emphasis in Musical Theatre Performance from California State University, Fullerton. Liz is proudly from the Bay Area and serves on the Roxie Theater Board as Co-Chair.
