ARTICLE - An Interview with Kari Magill
Strength of the Eastside Community is Growth and Collaboration
Born and raised in Issaquah, Kari Magill’s deep connection to her hometown fuels a life-long passion for the Eastside. She describes the region as an exceptional place to raise a family, with strong schools, reliable public safety, and a high quality of life. And Magill notes that the Eastside uniquely offers a diverse range of residential experiences—urban, walkable, nature-focused, sophisticated, and vibrant—all supported by a community that welcomes growth and innovation.
As CEO of Rowley Properties, a prominent local developer, Magill has played an active role in shaping the Eastside’s growth through increased commercial development and a vision to build out their Hyla Crossing and Rowley Center neighborhoods in Issaquah. She actively engages, volunteers, and supports local non-profits working to make a difference on the Eastside.
One of the driving forces behind Eastside’s growth is the booming tech sector. Tech companies have established a strong physical and economic footprint in the area, bringing prosperity while also introducing new complexities. “Tech companies know their growth brings change—some positive, some disruptive,” said Magill. Yet, she’s optimistic about the role these companies play in maintaining the region’s economic vitality while addressing the needs of their employees and neighbors. “They want to proactively invest in the Eastside’s quality of life and in turn, a significant percentage of their employees volunteer and/or give to nonprofits.”
“We want to make sure our region continues to thrive—not just react to problems after they arise,”
The vision of growth, corporate involvement, and community engagement aligns well with Magill’s work as a board member of Eastside Foundation, a community foundation dedicated to proactively addressing social challenges and community development across East King County. As the region grows, so do challenges like homelessness, affordable housing, funding high education standards, and gaps in social services. Eastside Foundation brings together businesses, government, nonprofits, and philanthropy to foster data-driven, results-oriented programs, ensuring that resources are used efficiently and effectively. “We want to make sure our region continues to thrive—not just react to problems after they arise,” said Magill.
A critical hurdle facing Eastside nonprofit social service providers is the lack of high-level coordination and data-driven decision-making. In some instances, there are organizations offering overlapping services competing for the same resource pool, while others leave critical gaps unaddressed. Some nonprofits secure generous funding while others struggle to stay afloat. Without a system that views the entire nonprofit ecosystem holistically, it’s difficult to track outcomes or measure success.
“Without good data, you cannot solve the problem. We need to measure success, hold organizations accountable, and track real outcomes,” said Magill. To that end, Eastside Foundation advocates investing in smarter data systems to monitor activities, assess impact, and direct resources to be effective where they’re needed most.
Eastside city governments are also central to community development and are held accountable by voters. That means they are diligent about supporting programs that demonstrate clear results. “If they do not see results, they’ll find a more effective partner,” said Magill. She underscores that Eastside Foundation endorses this strategy, aiming to maximize the efficiency of every invested dollar while achieving measurable results.
One key area of involvement for Eastside Foundation is increasing coordination between frontline nonprofit service providers like shelters, affordable housing advocates, behavioral health providers, and others. “We’re not here to replace nonprofits,” said Magill. “We’re here to enable them to be even more effective and efficient by coordinating the information that goes between them.”
The intent is to work together to strengthen the social services infrastructure. And that also includes creating more engagement between nonprofits and the business community. While the corporate world focuses on measurable outcomes like profit and loss, social service providers grapple with some of the most complex, long-term societal issues. Magill believes that stronger relationships with the corporate world can further lift up nonprofits. Through engagement facilitated by Eastside Foundation, nonprofits gain access to expertise and resources to help improve performance and impact.
Shaping a Sustainable Future
Magill believes when businesses, nonprofits, governments, and philanthropy come together with the Eastside Foundation, resources are utilized efficiently, accountability is strengthened, and our collective investment drives long-lasting change. “You can support any nonprofit, and that’s great. But Eastside Foundation ensures every dollar stretches even further by coordinating efforts and creating a bigger impact,” said Magill.
To learn more about how you can support this mission, visit eastside-foundation.org.
