Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Timeline
Generic

Randall Miller, PhD

Oakland,CA

Summary

Seasoned philanthropic leader with significant background and experience in strategic grantmaking and overseeing philanthropic operations. Proven ability to coach and inspire teams to achieve ambitious goals and priorities. Passionate commitment to racial and social equity, and to working with and on behalf of marginalized and underserved communities.

Overview

31
31
years of professional experience

Work History

Vice President of Finance & Administration

Borealis Philanthropy
Remote
09.2025 - Current
  • Provided strategic advice and recommendations to President as chief financial and administrative officer.
  • Oversaw finance, operations, and people and culture departments, supervising department directors directly.
  • Managed organization-wide initiatives such as work planning, budget development, change management, and risk mitigation.
  • Led multiyear strategic effort to enhance internal capacity for an organization that doubled in size.
  • Served previously as Managing Director, acting as chief of staff for the organization.

Organizational Development Consultant

Oaktown Consulting
Oakland, California
12.1998 - Current
  • Served as the principal consultant for a consulting practice focused on social justice work.
  • Organized retreats for nonprofit boards and senior leadership teams focused on board, staff, and organizational development.
  • Facilitated strategic planning initiatives aimed at aligning internal structures, staffing, and financial resources with organizational priorities.
  • Provided programmatic recommendations and philanthropic advising to individual and institutional donors.

Program Director

Arcus Foundation
New York, New York
05.2015 - 12.2018
  • Spearheaded one of four grantmaking areas for private foundation focused on LGBT rights and great ape preservation.
  • Directed strategic initiative distributing over $10 million annually to advocacy groups across Africa, East Asia, Europe, and the U.S.
  • Funded training and development of global network of faith-based advocates for LGBTQ+ and human rights.
  • Organized and facilitated multi-country convenings for lead organizers addressing human rights issues.

Core Faculty/Interim Vice President & Dean

Pacific School Of Religion
Berkeley, California
06.2010 - 05.2015
  • Developed and instructed courses on ethics, leadership, and social change at progressive graduate institution.
  • Led strategic planning initiative to realign mission with focus on change-making and social justice.
  • Pioneered Changemakers Fellowship for mid-career professionals of color emphasizing racial and social equity.
  • Founded Center for Spiritual Innovation to enhance community engagement and collaboration.
  • Initiated curriculum redesign process while overseeing faculty performance and development.

Senior Program Officer/Program Officer

Evelyn & Walter Haas, Jr. Fund
San Francisco, California
08.2006 - 05.2012
  • Contributed as key staff on grantmaking team focused on educational access, immigrant rights, and LGBT equality.
  • Directed grants portfolio supporting racial equity initiatives with Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights, NAACP, and People for the American Way.
  • Coordinated $9M nationwide faith-based initiative addressing religious extremism and promoting equal rights and marriage equality.
  • Facilitated convenings that grought together organizers, advocates, and field experts to tackle complex challenges.

Associate Director of Philanthropic Services

Tides Foundation
San Francisco, California
10.2003 - 07.2006
  • Managed an $8-$10M portfolio of individual, family, and institutional donors emphasizing social justice.
  • Supervised three philanthropic advisors, securing annual contributions of $20M from affluent individual donors.
  • Oversaw grants administration department, conducting due diligence and reviewing and approving approximately 150 grants annually.
  • Established a planned giving initiative to develop a national network of advocacy organizations.

Vice President of Programs/Director of Grantmaking

Vanguard Public Foundation
San Francisco, California
01.2000 - 12.2003
  • Revamped $7M grantmaking initiative focused on grassroots advocacy and organizing groups in the SF/Bay Area, and the Central Valley.
  • Designed community-based capacity-building effort aimed at increasing the impact of social justice organizations with budgets under $1M.
  • Launched a 3-month sabbatical program for executive directors and lead organizers to step back and reflect on their leadership.
  • Supervised three program officers and facilitated the community-driven grants selection process.

Executive Director

National Task Force on AIDS Prevention
San Francisco, California
07.1994 - 08.1997
  • Selected as executive of a national prevention, education, and advocacy organization serving people of color communities.
  • Grew staff size from 25 to 75, and increased organizational budget and revenue from $1.5M to $5M over three years.
  • Oversaw the development and launch of targeted, culturally competent prevention campaigns, training curricula, and collateral materials.
  • Led public engagement strategy and advocacy efforts to increase attention and funding from the White House, Congress, and federal agencies.
  • Directed the senior leadership team and supervised the directors of programs, operations, and finance.

Education

Ph.D. - Ethics & Social Theory

Graduate School of Religion
Berkeley, CA

Graduate Studies -

Emory University
Atlanta, GA

Bachelor of Arts - Religion And Classics

Emory And Henry College
Emory, VA

Some College (No Degree) - Psychology

Howard University
Washington, DC

Skills

  • Strategic communication
  • Organizational development
  • Change management
  • Team leadership
  • Critical thinking
  • Relationship building
  • Strategic grantmaking
  • Stakeholder engagement
  • Financial planning
  • Budget management

Accomplishments

  • Rockwood Leadership Institute, Fellowship for Foundation Executives, 2010
  • GEO Change Leaders in Philanthropy Fellowship, 2024
  • National Black Justice Coalition, James Baldwin Legacy Awards, 2025

Timeline

Vice President of Finance & Administration

Borealis Philanthropy
09.2025 - Current

Program Director

Arcus Foundation
05.2015 - 12.2018

Core Faculty/Interim Vice President & Dean

Pacific School Of Religion
06.2010 - 05.2015

Senior Program Officer/Program Officer

Evelyn & Walter Haas, Jr. Fund
08.2006 - 05.2012

Associate Director of Philanthropic Services

Tides Foundation
10.2003 - 07.2006

Vice President of Programs/Director of Grantmaking

Vanguard Public Foundation
01.2000 - 12.2003

Organizational Development Consultant

Oaktown Consulting
12.1998 - Current

Executive Director

National Task Force on AIDS Prevention
07.1994 - 08.1997

Ph.D. - Ethics & Social Theory

Graduate School of Religion

Graduate Studies -

Emory University

Bachelor of Arts - Religion And Classics

Emory And Henry College

Some College (No Degree) - Psychology

Howard University

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