Woman of Influence: Trisha Finnegan
Trisha Finnegan is prone to bold, life-changing moves, moments of exuberance and using quirky ’80s slang like “super rad.” Her X (formerly Twitter) handle is peppy: @DashOfGood. Seismic shifts and embracing optimism are her jam. Making positive change is her life’s purpose and her energy crackles with intensity. This is a woman whose desire to do good and live her life on her own terms has led her to upend (almost) everything — twice.
The first time was in 2011. She’d attended the Louisville IdeaFestival in June that year, and by November had resigned her position with the healthcare company Humana, deciding that the 13-year corporate career she’d built wasn’t enough. Not in a monetary way; in a deeper, philosophical way. A do-gooding way. She took about a year off, did some soul searching, wrote her personal manifesto and met with lots of people. “I would sit down and say, ‘Here’s who I am. And here are some of the things I’m good at. And here’s some of the things I’m not good at and here’s the contribution I want to make, and who do you think I should talk to next?’” Those conversations led her to the then-CEO of the Community Foundation of Louisville.
Finnegan came to the world of philanthropy in her 30s. She’s a product of public schools and explains that she was not raised in a wealthy household. As a child, she remembers being told that she was very inquisitive. Probably fairly serious. She enjoyed academics and describes herself as a lifelong student.
A few years later, after working for a botanical nonprofit and a tech startup, she took a position with the Community Foundation of Louisville, where she spent seven and a half years, ultimately rising to become its chief strategy officer and senior vice president. Her career had become purpose-driven, just as she’d hoped when she took that leap of faith in 2011.
The next time Finnegan gave her life a good shuffle was about two years ago. She and her husband Daryn Demeritt, a health care lobbyist, picked up their whole life and moved from Louisville to Oklahoma City for Finnegan’s job as the new president and CEO of the Oklahoma City Community Foundation. A bold decision under any circumstance, but not a surprising one for our heroine given what we know about her style. It was certainly bold because the couple knew nobody in Oklahoma City when they made the move. They just jumped in, and quickly found that Oklahoma City suits them.
Perhaps bolder than that, though, she knew she’d be following in the footsteps of a pretty tough act. A larger-than-life figure in Oklahoma’s philanthropic community whose influence has been felt statewide for decades. Her predecessor is the venerable fellow former Kentuckian Nancy Anthony, who helmed the Foundation for nearly 38 years, taking it from an organization with assets of $20 million and two employees to one with assets of more than $1.6 billion and 50 full-time employees. The Oklahoma City Community Foundation now makes average annual distributions to the Oklahoma City community of $46 million, a figure more than twice its total assets in 1985.
Finnegan has taken up the baton with trademark enthusiasm and profound respect for all that has come before her. She is committed to moving urgently and responsibly, always looking for ways to do things better. “I love saying that Oklahoma City is my home. Even though it’s only been a year and a half, coming up on two years, I am really proud to be here,” she says, adding
that people in Oklahoma City have been exceedingly welcoming. “I see it as a huge responsibility, in a positive way, to keep taking the good and make it better. To me, ‘better’ is taking what’s been built, and being really astute and thoughtful about what’s needed next, and continually investing. That might mean ensuring a stable economy, improving economic conditions for more people or it might mean helping more people love Oklahoma City.”
This woman is on a nonstop learning expedition, looking for ways to carry the work of her forebears forward in ways that are meaningful now, and also will prepare and propel her organization forward. Because the Community Foundation touches so many nonprofit sectors, Finnegan and her team are able to help support projects, programs and scholarships that touch countless Oklahomans every day. “I think of us as a bit of a uniter or a matchmaker, you know: People have funds they want to invest, and people are doing great work that needs to be funded,” she says.
Finnegan feels fortunate to have walked into an organization with such a dedicated team. “They know they’re part of something bigger,” she says. “I really respect their ‘why.’” She also enjoys seeing people grow professionally, a facet of the job she finds deeply rewarding.
“Part of what connects me so closely and so passionately to what I do is that sense of figuring things out, making things better, contributing … Our communities are dynamic, our needs are dynamic. What Oklahoma City needs will be different today than it was six months ago or will be six months from now. It’s a fuel that never burns out for me, this sense of trying to make things better and understanding the complexities involved in trying to create the change that our community hopes for.”
How does this self-proclaimed introvert handle being the public face of an Oklahoma City institution? She approaches the multitude of events and meetings strategically, leveraging them for energy. She prefers to talk to people one at a time when possible and quickly moves past the superficial. “I am very energized by meaningful connection and conversation … for me, being out or at events, it’s about learning. It’s about meeting people, learning what organizations are doing and hearing what’s happening so that I can be knowledgeable to inform other people. The energy in that room for me is the learning, the connection and the relationship building.”
When she does have down time, Finnegan loves a good walk, plenty of sleep and dinner at a favorite restaurant (she’s partial to the oysters at The Drake), and she is intentional about making time for a creative outlet. She’s a maker and a crafter preferring to work in textiles, paints …anything “tactile and forgiving,” as she puts it.
She actively encourages community members to get involved, to reach out with ideas, and is happy to meet with folks who see something that could be improved, or who see a community need. “It does feel limitless. It really does. I mean, and I think that’s what’s so unique about a community foundation: Our sole purpose is to support the people in the place that we are privileged to be part of.” •