Starla Cochenour
Community Engagement & Nonprofit Operations Strategist
Starla Cochenour is a community engagement and nonprofit operations professional who supports organizations in building strong systems, meaningful partnerships, and community-informed outcomes. Her work focuses on helping nonprofits and place-based initiatives translate community relationships and data into clear plans, sustainable funding, and day-to-day operations that work.
With experience spanning neighborhood engagement, fundraising strategy, and organizational management, Starla brings a practical, people-centered approach to community work. She is especially skilled at designing processes that improve clarity and accountability—so teams can spend less time navigating systems and more time delivering impact.
Starla is known for her ability to balance relationship-building with structure. Whether coordinating large-scale community events, supporting residents through grant applications, or strengthening internal workflows, she approaches each project with care, transparency, and a commitment to equity in practice.
Career Highlights
Our West Bayfront – Community Engagement Manager: Organized and delivered more than 20 community events annually in collaboration with residents, partners, and volunteers, serving audiences ranging from small neighborhood gatherings to events of 1,200 people. Managed a volunteer database of 400+ individuals and leads recruitment strategies aligned with organizational needs. Supported residents through home improvement grant applications, helping secure over $170,000 in funding for low-income households.
Compton’s Table – Board Finance Director: Rebuilt donor and fundraising systems by compiling and analyzing historical data to inform strategy, contributing to a 260% increase in Erie Gives donations from 2024-2025. Developed project management workflows for grants, fundraising, and events, and co-authored grants resulting in nearly $120,000 in funding secured within the first eight months.
monday.com – Ambassador: Leads regionally focused workshops and one-on-one onboarding sessions for nonprofits, supporting the adoption of project management tools that strengthen data-informed decision-making, coordination, and outcomes. Contributes to a global ambassador network focused on shared learning and organizational capacity-building.
Our West Bayfront & Bayfront East Side Taskforce – Neighborhood Outreach Coordinator: Built trust-based relationships with neighbors and partners to strengthen community connections and program participation. Balanced timelines and deliverables across two organizations while supporting residents through individualized outreach and technical assistance.
Education & Credentials
- Washburn University, Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies and Philosophy
- Erie Center for Arts & Technology, Construction Trades Program
Certifications & Community Involvement
- Nonprofit Partnership Fundraising Academy Certification (2025)
- OSHA 10 (2024)
- Vice President, Erie Neighborhood Growth Partnership Board
- Board Finance Director, Compton’s Table
- Alliance Builder Team, Erie Spiritual Coalition
- Scholarship Review Committee, Erie Community Foundation LGBT Fund