Cari joined the ACLU of Montana as Director of Philanthropy in 2025, bringing extensive experience in nonprofit leadership, especially in the climate justice and environmental advocacy realms. She is passionate about tapping into the spirit of generosity to fuel ACLU-MT's transformative work for political, racial, social, and economic justice.
Raised in the Billings area, with the Beartooth Mountains on the skyline, Cari developed a bone-deep appreciation for the state’s breathtaking landscapes and cultural richness. She is on an ongoing journey of unpacking and sharing the power she holds as a cisgender, white, fifth-generation Montanan while working to dismantle the hierarchical systems that limit everyone’s collective potential. Throughout her career she’s dabbled in nonprofit fundraising, coordinating outdoor education programs, developing science-art projects, and co-creating equity and inclusion initiatives for nonprofit organizations.
Cari holds a B.S. in Environmental Studies from Linfield College and an M.S. in Environmental Studies with a certificate in Natural Resource Conflict Resolution from the University of Montana. She enjoys reading, lounging on patios with friends, and wandering Montana’s trails with her husband, Brian, their daughter, Ruby, and their all-terrain chihuahua.
