Robyn Trem

Senior Philanthropy Officer | Energized by strategy, infrastructure, and partnership | Rooted in transparency, equity, and authenticity

Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States

About

I'm a philanthropy officer with 10+ years of experience on both sides of the grantmaking table. Wherever I go, I work in partnership to open doors for teams that are shifting power and achieving sustainable impact. I'm committed to equity, transparency, and accountability - and questioning the status quo - and am inspired by people who reframe challenges in order to solve them. As a leader, I coach with questions, work collaboratively, and elevate team members. I believe that strong infrastructure is key to good outcomes and trust is key to good partnerships. I'm currently engaging transformative philanthropy for Cleveland Clinic - and always learning as I go.

Experience

  • Cleveland Clinic (6 yrs 2 mos)
    • Senior Director, Foundation Relations
      Mar 2025 - Present · 1 yr 5 mos

      • Executed transformative philanthropic strategy for 6-10 emerging and sustained high-priority areas annually • Led cross-functional strategic approach to solicit 15-25 $1M+ grants annually • Managed relationships with ~35 highest-net worth biomedical research funders including Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Pew Charitable Trusts, V Foundation, Simons Foundation, Lever for Change, and more

    • Director, Foundation Relations
      Jun 2020 - Apr 2025 · 4 yrs 11 mos

      • Drove enterprise-level $100M fundraising initiative • Achieved measurable impact in Corporate and Foundation Relations programmatic review; led infrastructural workstreams • Served on Caregiver Catalyst grant review committee making ~$5M in grants annually • Leader of ClinicPride employee resource group; Founding member of Philanthropy Inclusion and Belonging initiative

  • Consultant at Lever for Change
    Jan 2020 - Jul 2020 · 7 mos

  • MacArthur Foundation ()
    • Consultant
      Aug 2019 - Jun 2020 · 11 mos

      • Consulted on grantmaking strategy; program development; program evaluation; data visualization; research quality assurance; and diversity, equity, and inclusion • Engaged grantee and Foundation stakeholders to write founding strategy document for the Just Tech Fellowship at the Social Science Research Council

    • Associate
      Feb 2016 - Aug 2019 · 3 yrs 7 mos

      • Conducted strategic research projects across program areas, including venture philanthropy, criminal justice, arts, housing, climate, economic development, technology, reproductive health, international security, and the MacArthur Fellows (“Genius Grant”) program • Served on screening committee for inaugural round of Lever for Change’s 100&Change (2017) • Led steering committee to transform approach to research grantmaking; wrote research quality assurance policy • Founding member of “the Just Imperative”, MacArthur’s central justice and equity initiative

    • Assistant
      Feb 2015 - Feb 2016 · 1 yr 1 mo

      • Assisted $10M grantmaking portfolio with 300+ grantees

  • AmeriCorps ()
    • Senior Fellow
      Aug 2012 - Aug 2013 · 1 yr 1 mo

      • Managed team of 20 Fellows, providing training, supervision, mentorship, and housing support • Implemented data-driven academic assistance program high school students highly impacted by barriers to education

    • Fellow
      Aug 2011 - Aug 2012 · 1 yr 1 mo