Casey Ernstes

Casey (she/they) is the Director of Development at MediaJustice. She has a decade of experience in fundraising, campaign development, and administrative and operations work. Casey confronts the contradictions and power dynamics of fundraising under racial capitalism head-on, and is eager to design funding models that are sustainable for constituents, donors, staff, and movement organizations. Casey splits time between work at MediaJustice and farming in so-called Chicago (the traditional homelands of the Odawa, Ojibwe, and Potawatomi nations). During the farming season, you’ll find them deep in conversation about soil health, connecting with other queer farmers in the Midwest, or trying to convince folks to try Hakurai Turnips at local farmer’s markets. Casey’s hobbies include playing banjo, cooking for large groups, organizing with neighbors, watching birds, and joining more book clubs than they can keep up with.