Emily Thielmann (she/her) is a Vice President on the Democracy Team at Third Plateau, where she supports leaders, organizations, and funders focused on building a brighter future for American democracy. Emily facilitates learning and relationship-building among donors concerned about the health of American democracy and advises funders on their democracy-related giving.

Just prior to Third Plateau, Emily spent 7 years at Maine’s Cutler Institute for Health and Social Policy working to improve long-term outcomes for youth and families through community-led systems change. Emily has a bachelor’s in philosophy from Vassar College and a master’s in Public Policy and Management from the Muskie School at the University of Southern Maine.

Emily spent her childhood in the Soviet Union, Virginia, and Brazil and adulthood mostly in New York, Maine, and California. She now lives in Philadelphia with her husband and daughter. She loves good food and company, enjoys dreaming about travel (if not actually doing it), and is currently working on perfecting her Elmo voice (mostly for her daughter).