Steve Lesky
Sr. Program Officer
“My intent is to always live life beyond myself and find the good in things and people. I consider all my community-based work both a privilege and a valuable ongoing learning opportunity.”
Steve serves as a Sr. Program Officer for Cambia Health Foundation. He directs strategy and implements plans to help transform population health through advancing equity and centering community voice. Steve manages funding initiatives that support nonprofits, emphasizing collaboration and mission-related investing to support healthy people and communities. He is an active participant in several learning collaboratives including early learning, maternal and child health, and emerging work in the field of trauma informed care. In 2022, Steve was selected as a Centering Race Equity in Grantmaking Fellow through Grantmakers for Effective Organizations.
Steve has a diverse background in the philanthropy, nonprofit and public sectors. Prior to joining Cambia Health Foundation, Steve was a member of the philanthropy team at The Colorado Health Foundation, where he secured approval of more than $20 million in grants supporting the work of a wide range of health and human service organizations. Steve began working in philanthropy as regional vice president with the Allegany Foundation. In this role he created and implemented a nonprofit capacity-building initiative that continues to expand sector impact on social determinants of health.
Prior to his work in philanthropy, Steve held various positions in child welfare services and program management. He continues to be committed to this work through volunteer activities in the community and as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for children having served on their diversity, equity, and inclusion committee. Steve has co-authored published articles on cross-sector partnerships and the evolving relationships between government and philanthropic responses to social needs. He has completed Leadership Portland and DELTA, a 9-month program providing training, coaching, and networking on advancing health equity. Steve holds a master’s degree in Public Policy, a Master of Public Administration degree, and a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
Steve serves as a Sr. Program Officer for Cambia Health Foundation. He directs strategy and implements plans to help transform population health through advancing equity and centering community voice. Steve manages funding initiatives that support nonprofits, emphasizing collaboration and mission-related investing to support healthy people and communities. He is an active participant in several learning collaboratives including early learning, maternal and child health, and emerging work in the field of trauma informed care. In 2022, Steve was selected as a Centering Race Equity in Grantmaking Fellow through Grantmakers for Effective Organizations.
Steve has a diverse background in the philanthropy, nonprofit and public sectors. Prior to joining Cambia Health Foundation, Steve was a member of the philanthropy team at The Colorado Health Foundation, where he secured approval of more than $20 million in grants supporting the work of a wide range of health and human service organizations. Steve began working in philanthropy as regional vice president with the Allegany Foundation. In this role he created and implemented a nonprofit capacity-building initiative that continues to expand sector impact on social determinants of health.
Prior to his work in philanthropy, Steve held various positions in child welfare services and program management. He continues to be committed to this work through volunteer activities in the community and as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for children having served on their diversity, equity, and inclusion committee. Steve has co-authored published articles on cross-sector partnerships and the evolving relationships between government and philanthropic responses to social needs. He has completed Leadership Portland and DELTA, a 9-month program providing training, coaching, and networking on advancing health equity. Steve holds a master’s degree in Public Policy, a Master of Public Administration degree, and a bachelor’s degree in business administration.