Michelle Rhone-Collins

Biography

Michelle is a dynamic leader committed to advancing equity and access, particularly in communities facing systemic poverty. As CEO of LIFT, she has pioneered transformative initiatives reshaping their approach to poverty and intergenerational mobility introducing innovations like financial coaching, direct cash support, and the 2Gen model—now core to LIFT’s national efforts. Her groundbreaking study linking financial coaching to improved health outcomes further cemented her role as a leader in economic mobility.

A fierce advocate for women of color in the social impact sector, Michelle has been featured in Forbes, SSIR, and NPR’s Marketplace. She serves on the boards of United Way of Greater Los Angeles and Social Justice Partners LA and is a Senior Fellow at UCLA Luskin and USC Marshall. Michelle is also a Promise Venture Fellow. Based in LA, she’s the proud mother of two, her greatest source of inspiration.