Paula Kashtan oversees a strategically responsive portfolio of grants. Prior to joining ECMC Foundation Paula worked in development at College Possible Minnesota, where she was responsible for more than $3 million in annual foundation fundraising to support college access and success programming for students from low-income backgrounds. She also has extensive experience leading non-profit programs directly, with a particular focus on college matriculation and persistence initiatives serving students not historically represented in higher education. Her professional experience includes leadership roles at College Access: Research and Action, National School Climate Center,  Step Up, and Manual Arts High School in LAUSD.

Paula holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Northwestern University and a master's degree in urban education from UCLA.