Grace Palermo

As a Senior Foundation Giving Officer, Grace partners with philanthropic organizations to advance high-impact conservation projects across the nation’s forests and grasslands. Since joining the NFF in 2023, she has played a key role in aligning foundation investment with large-scale, strategic initiatives that support forest and watershed health, wildfire resilience, outdoor recreation, and rural community vitality. Her work is grounded in building trusted, long-term partnerships and connecting funders to efforts that deliver lasting, on-the-ground impact.

Prior to the NFF, Grace spent a decade protecting public lands in Nevada, contributing to the designation of Gold Butte and Avi Kwa Ame National Monuments and spending summers using crosscut saws to maintain wilderness trails. Earlier in her career, she worked with the Bureau of Land Management in Oregon, where she operated a visitor center, led interpretive programming, and supported monitoring of snowy plovers and western lilies. These experiences shape her ability to connect funders with credible, on-the-ground conservation impact.

Grace is actively involved in the Nevada Wildlife Federation and Association of Fundraising Professionals. She holds bachelor’s degrees in biology and philosophy from the University of Minnesota, Duluth and an Outdoor Industry Business Certificate from Western Colorado University.