Jessica Millman

Jessica Millman is the Executive Director of the Elsa & Peter Soderberg Charitable Foundation. Through venture philanthropy and strategic grantmaking the Soderberg Foundation seeks to boost the quality of life for all people, with an emphasis on women and children.

Jessica is an expert and leader in urban planning and environmentally sustainable development and known as a passionate and energetic organizer for the public good. Presently, Jessica is a member of the Environmental Advisory Committee of the Village of Skaneateles and is on the Board of Directors for the Skaneateles Festival. Jessica served as a member of the Strategic Planning Committee and the School Safety Committee of the Skaneateles School Board, the Skaneateles Lake Association, and the Skaneateles Music Guild. In addition, she was a member of various local government committees including the Planning Board of the Town of Skaneateles.

Jessica has extensive experience working at all levels of government and in the non-profit arena. Through the Natural Resources Defense Council’s Green Neighborhoods Program, Jessica worked with communities around the country to design, plan, and catalyze the building of model, neighborhood-scale development projects that combine equity, environmental justice, green stormwater infrastructure, efficient transportation options, green building, public health practices, smart growth, and new urbanism. 

Jessica served as the Planning Director for the Coalition for Smarter Growth, an organization dedicated to the adoption of sound planning policies around the Washington region. Jessica has held many other positions including: Deputy Director of the Smart Growth Leadership Institute at Smart Growth America (where she ran a technical assistance grant program); Chief of Staff for the Governor’s Office of Smart Growth in Maryland (where she helped directed the State budget towards the Governor’s top environmental priorities); and a variety of grant-making positions at the United States Environmental Protection Agency.