Rudi Navarra

Rudi Navarra serves as a Senior Program Officer at the Waverley Street Foundation, advancing renewable energy, sustainable food systems, and local economies.

Prior to joining Waverley, Rudi led a philanthropic portfolio as senior director of the Environment & Communities program at Emerson Collective. His work focused on supporting leaders and models that sought sustainable solutions on clean air, water, food, and energy with an emphasis on thriving livelihoods and economic prosperity. Rudi also served as director of investments at The Solutions Project, a national intermediary funder supporting frontline leaders and funding clean energy demonstration projects. Over the past decade, Rudi disbursed millions of dollars in grants primarily across the U.S. and was recognized with an Impact Award from the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy.

Before turning to philanthropy, Rudi was an experienced convener and organizer. While working as a regional coordinator at the U.S. Climate Action Network and director of the Southeast Climate and Energy Network, he was recognized with a Four Under 40 award for leadership in public and international affairs from his alma mater, the University of Pittsburgh. He also worked with Latino communities, registering voters and managing election protection programs, as part of democracy-focused initiatives at People for The American Way and UnidosUS.

Rudi holds an MA in International Development from the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Pittsburgh, and a BA in Communications from Duquesne University.