Janell Turner
Managing Director
Janell brings a warm and insightful touch to her role as Managing Director. She provides thought leadership about giving with purpose and values, with an eye toward the intersection of personal fulfillment and impact. She also serves as Phīla’s liaison to family offices helping them to incorporate meaningful philanthropic practices into their offerings. She is a connector and bridge builder with allied professionals in financial services, estate planning, and general family wealth advisors. Janell leads client engagements and finds immense joy in partnering with people who desire to align their lifetime giving with their legacies.
Janell is a Certified Specialist in Planned Giving (CSPG), a Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP®), and a Certified 21/64 Advisor in multi-generational family philanthropy. She stewards her deep knowledge of the field to help philanthropists navigate the how, what and why of social change so that their giving is more joyful, purpose-driven, and informed.
Janell’s passion to unleash generosity in others has led to her being a sought-after speaker on trust-based giving, estate planning, and the intersection of philanthropy and impact investing. She has served on various nonprofit boards such as Inspire Washington and United Way of King County, was appointed by Governor Jan Brewer to the Arizona Governor’s Commission on Service and Volunteerism, was a regional director for the Arizona Community Foundation, and has led planned giving and endowment building for Seattle Opera and other nonprofits. She was appointed by Senator Cory Booker to help launch the Newark Prisoner Reentry Initiative in Newark, NJ, a program designed to eliminate recidivism and ensure a successful transition home post-incarceration. The program was recognized as a “Bright Idea” by the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.
Proficient in Japanese, Janell earned a BA from University of Washington in Japanese Sociolinguistics and fulfilled her childhood dream of living in Yokohama, Japan before ultimately returning home to Seattle. She currently serves on the boards of Seattle Opera and Horizon House, a unique urban retirement community located in the heart of downtown Seattle.
In her time away from the office she enjoys travel, musical theater and opera, quiet evenings with her favorite book, and spending time with her two sons and a feisty little Bichon named Katie.