Yeshi TekleMichael

Yeshi joined PFS in May 2021 as a grants manager supporting both nonprofits and client foundations to ensure a smooth grantmaking process. She derives satisfaction from creating a conducive and easy-to-navigate system for nonprofits in the grant application and award processes.

Yeshi previously worked for the Christensen Fund (2007-2011) as grants manager. Before moving to the US in June 2006, her work focused on redressing gender inequality in Ethiopia while working for different national and international organizations. At the former Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) in Addis Ababa, Yeshi managed their gender fund and advised CIDA on gender equality issues in their food security/sovereignty, agriculture, and rural development work. She also served as the gender officer of the UN World Food Programme in Addis Ababa and as the coordinator of a gender research and training center at Addis Ababa University.

Yeshi has an MA in Development Studies with a specialization in Women in Development from the International Institute of Development Studies (IIDS), The Hague, The Netherlands, and a BA in Philosophy from Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Yeshi grew up in Addis and speaks fluent Amharic and English. She now lives in San Jose with her teenage daughter.