Brinlee hired as Rural Health Initiatives Director
Media Release
November 27, 2023
OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma Impact Investing Collaborative (Collaborative), a subsidiary of MetaFund, in partnership with the Oklahoma City Community Foundation (OCCF), proudly announces the hiring of Linda Brinlee as Director of Rural Health Initiatives. In her role as director, Brinlee will work to identify opportunities for joint investments aimed at improving rural health in a 15-county area of southeast Oklahoma.
Brinlee, an 18-year veteran of public health and community initiatives, hails from Latimer County. The primary geographic focus for her position will initially be in Choctaw, McCurtain, and Pushmataha Counties. However, based on the strategic priorities of the Collaborative and OCCF, she may also work in Adair, Atoka, Bryan, Caddo, Cherokee, Coal, Haskell, Johnston, Kiowa, Latimer, McIntosh, and Okfuskee Counties.
Most recently, Brinlee worked as a Health Equity Specialist for the Oklahoma State Department of Health. She also worked as a Program Grant Consultant and Community Drug Overdose Prevention Coordinator for that agency. Her experience includes serving as a Wellness Coordinator II for the Pittsburg County Health Department and Health Promotion Strategist and Community Relations Coordinator for the Oklahoma Health Care Authority. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Southeastern Oklahoma State College and a Master of Business Administration/Public Administration degree from the University of Phoenix. She has served on the Living in Latimer Coalition since 2013, serving as chairperson and co-chairperson during that time.
“Rural health is a priority for us,” said Ed Long, president of the Collaborative. “Our communities are innovative and know what works best at the local level. Linda’s commitment to rural Oklahoma and to serving others will help us get needed resources to folks driving change across the state. Our partnership with the Oklahoma City Community Foundation and its affiliate, the Carolyn Watson Rural Oklahoma Community Foundation, makes it possible to have a greater impact and serve more people.”
The director’s position is funded by the Carolyn Watson Foundation’s Community Grants Program administered by OCCF. Brinlee will be responsible for business development and community engagement with the Collaborative and OCCF to identify, develop, monitor, evaluate, and support initiatives aimed at improving outcomes related to rural health.
“Linda Brinlee’s appointment marks a pivotal moment in the partnership between OCCF and the Collaborative, underscoring our commitment to addressing health disparities in rural areas,” OCCF President and CEO Trisha Finnegan said. “We look forward to our work with the Collaborative, Linda, our rural community partners, and other key stakeholders to bring innovative solutions that advance rural health in Oklahoma."
By combining the financing opportunities available from the Collaborative with OCCF grant-making, greater impacts can be achieved through successful outcomes and long-term sustainability of investment efforts. The two nonprofits plan to team up with other public, private, nonprofit and tribal resources to further strengthen community-led rural health efforts.
“It is an honor to accept this position with MetaFund's Oklahoma Impact Investing Collaborative. I have spent the last several years working within the communities of southeast Oklahoma to identify community strengths, needs and barriers to improving rural health outcomes,” Brinlee said. “The collaborative efforts of multiple organizations, such as MetaFund and OCCF, will strengthen the financial and programmatic opportunities for overall success and continued improvement in rural health initiatives in southeast Oklahoma.”
The Collaborative will also work to identify opportunities in the area for New Markets Tax Credits and small business lending in alignment with the goals of the collaboration. For more information about MetaFund and the Oklahoma Impact Investing Collaborative, visit www.metafund.org or call 405-949-0001.
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About Oklahoma Impact Investing Collaborative
The Oklahoma Impact Investing Collaborative (OIIC), a MetaFund initiative, uses philanthropic capital to provide flexible loans and technical assistance to innovative, mission-driven nonprofit and for-profit organizations, with the potential to improve outcomes for Oklahomans. OIIC is a national leader in Pay for Success financing.
About MetaFund
MetaFund is an Oklahoma-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit and certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) working with other nonprofits, the private sector, and government toward a just world free of poverty. MetaFund invests in creative solutions for communities, with a primary focus on employment, housing, health, and child well-being. For more information about OIIC or MetaFund, visit www.metafund.org.
About Oklahoma City Community Foundation
Founded in 1969, the Oklahoma City Community Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity that works with donors throughout the state to create charitable funds that will benefit our community both now and in the future. For more information, visit www.occf.org.
About Carolyn Watson Rural Oklahoma Community Foundation
The Carolyn Watson Rural Oklahoma Community Foundation was established in 1995 by Carolyn Watson, the late CEO and chairman of Shamrock Bank, N.A. To date, the foundation has distributed $3 million to support schools, nonprofits, and charitable organizations in their efforts to enhance the quality of life in rural Oklahoma communities. The foundation’s grant programs are administered by the Oklahoma City Community Foundation. For more information, visit www.occf.org/ruraloklahoma.
Media Contact:
Ed Long, President, Oklahoma Impact Investing Collaborative
Phone: (405) 922-7580
Email: Elong@metafund.org