Julia Olmstead oversees Fresh Energy’s programmatic philanthropic work across the organization, collaborating with program staff to inspire and secure foundation support for priority programs. Julia is also a member of Fresh Energy’s Executive Leadership Team helping to steer the organization’s management and budget.

Julia has deep experience bridging policy, philanthropy, and on-the-ground work, with much of her career focused on sustainable, equitable agriculture systems. Julia worked as a program officer at the McKnight Foundation and currently serves on the board of directors at the Land Institute in Salina, Kansas. She is a proud graduate of St. Paul Central High School and holds a B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, an M.S. in plant breeding from Iowa State University, and an M.J. in journalism from the University of California-Berkeley. Julia lives in Saint Paul with her three inspiring children and hasn’t stopped talking about her new induction range since installing it in 2023.