Ben Furr
Grants and Communications Officer
Ben joined the Kuni Foundation in 2024 to lead grants management and communications, working in partnership with community nonprofits across the Pacific Northwest. His role centers on supporting and elevating the impactful work of these organizations through strategic philanthropy, storytelling and collaboration.
With nearly two decades of experience spanning education, development, community engagement, strategic communications and marketing, Ben brings an eclectic and empathetic perspective to his day-to-day work. He began his career in New York City—born and raised in Brooklyn—at a literacy initiative based at Teachers College, Columbia University, and moved to Portland in 2008. Since then, he’s held various roles at the Portland Public Schools Foundation (now All Hands Raised), Gard Communications, and Cambia Health Solutions. Most recently, Ben led a small strategic communications team focused on brand journalism and storytelling to support healthcare innovation and community well-being.
Inspired by community service and giving back, Ben has served on the ambassador boards of New Avenues for Youth and the Oregon Historical Society, and his extensive volunteer service includes Big Brothers Big Sisters Columbia Northwest, the Forest Park Conservancy, and Cascade AIDS Project, among others.
He studied political science and Spanish at the University of Texas, Austin, including time abroad focused on human rights and sociology at La Universidad de Buenos Aires. Ben earned his master’s degree in strategic communications from the University of Oregon.
