Nonprofits are the heartbeats of our communities—quietly (and sometimes not so quietly) keeping people, programs, and progress moving forward. They can fill in where government and business sometimes fall short. And in Washoe County, as in many places across the country, it’s often (not always) women at the helm—creating change, lifting others, and shaping the region in deeply meaningful ways.
Women have long held a powerful presence in the nonprofit world. Nationally, nearly three-quarters of nonprofit employees are women, according to the Nonprofit Quarterly, and while executive leadership roles are increasingly reflecting that percentage, it's still women on the ground doing the work, building relationships, mentoring others, and forging paths toward equity, education, health, and sustainability.
Here in Washoe County, it’s no different. The list of incredible women behind local nonprofits is much too long to name in one article—but here are three movers and shakers who, over time, have exemplified the tenacity, creativity, and compassion it takes to lead in the nonprofit world.
Christi Cakiroglu: Building Better Boards, Greener Communities
If you’ve ever seen a community cleanup crew picking up litter along the Truckee River or organizing illegal dump cleanups in our neighborhoods, chances are Christi Cakiroglu had something to do with it.
Her first job was at a nonprofit with great history, United Way. Then, for nearly 19 years, Christi was the executive director of Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful (KTMB), a nonprofit that engages the community in environmental stewardship. Her leadership turned KTMB into one of the most visible and respected environmental nonprofits in the region.
But her influence didn’t stop there.
Christi (alongside Jeff Bryant) recently helped launch the Center for Nonprofit Business through the Reno + Sparks Chamber of Commerce—a much-needed resource hub for local nonprofit organizations and professionals. Now, through her consulting business, CC Consulting Solutions, she guides nonprofits through everything from executive transitions to board development.
She also teaches courses in nonprofit leadership and board governance at TMCC, passing along her knowledge to the next generation of nonprofit leaders.
“People who work in nonprofits are some of the best people you will ever meet,” Cakiroglu says. “Collectively - we’re not trying to sell something … we’re trying to solve something.”
Mariluz Garcia: Championing First-Generation Students and a Stronger County
Balancing two major leadership roles, Mariluz Garcia embodies the idea of servant leadership.
She serves as both a Washoe County Commissioner and the Executive Director of the Dean’s Future Scholars (DFS) Program at the University of Nevada, Reno. DFS provides mentorship, academic support, and college access for first-generation, low-income students—many of whom begin in the program during middle school and stay connected through college graduation.
“I’ve worked with many amazing women… they live and breathe this stuff,” says Garcia. “Our superpowers are multitasking, prioritizing, and being incredibl[y] responsive [to the needs of the community].”
The impact of DFS can’t be overstated: it’s a program that literally changes lives. Under Mariluz’s leadership, DFS has expanded its reach and deepened its impact, with a strong focus on diversity, inclusion, and breaking cycles of poverty through education.
As a County Commissioner, she brings her nonprofit values to the civic arena—prioritizing equity, education, and long-term community investments that benefit all residents of Washoe County.
Her dual roles reflect a broader truth about women in nonprofits: they often wear many hats and are driven not by titles, but by outcomes.
Lynn Atcheson: A Lifetime of Lifting Others
Some people shape a community in ways that are hard to quantify but impossible to ignore. Lynn Atcheson is one of those people.
Throughout her career, she never stopped advocating for nonprofits. A founding force behind organizations like the Nevada Women’s Fund, Truckee Meadows Tomorrow, and the Accentuate the Positive event, Lynn's influence continues to ripple through our region.
"I was extremely fortunate to work for 3 organizations (Harrah’s, Sierra Pacific Power-NV Energy, and Washoe Health System - Renown) who valued community involvement as a core principle of doing business,” says Atcheson of her time in the business sector. “They wanted good schools, recreation, arts and culture opportunities, child care, not to mention good air quality, an adequate water supply, and affordable housing to benefit their employees, or to assist in attracting the best work force possible. They could not do this without the help of non-profits.”
She brought business acumen (alongside devoted, community spirit) into the nonprofit world—a combination that helped drive sustainable change and cross-sector collaboration. Lynn was instrumental in the early success of Accentuate the Positive in the 1990s and 2000s, a community-driven campaign that celebrated local progress, shared success stories, and inspired civic pride.
Sept. 15 at Atlantis Casino Resort Spa, she’ll be honored in presenting the “Lynn Atcheson Lifetime Achievement Award” named in her honor—through Truckee Meadows Tomorrow and the revitalized Accentuate the Positive event. It’s a tribute to someone whose fingerprints are on so many of the positive community outcomes we see today.
Women Leading the Way
The women above represent just a small slice of the incredible women shaping our region through nonprofit work. These are roles that require boundless energy, vision, and the ability to do a lot with very little. Whether it’s cleaning up the environment, shepherding kids through college, or laying the foundation for entire organizations—these women are building a stronger Northern Nevada from the inside out.
Nonprofits may not always make headlines, but their impact is felt every day. And behind many of them, you’ll find a woman like Christi, Mariluz, or Lynn—pushing forward with heart, hustle, and hope.
“One great way to support nonprofits [aside from funding or volunteering] is to visit one and see what it’s like,” - Mariluz Garcia