A Young Donor Rooted in Place

Morgan Olenski grew up in a world that’s more connected than ever before. Yet, this young philanthropist is constantly asking herself what she can do to make life better in her own backyard. “Giving back to your community helps you feel grounded and engaged. That adds purpose to your day-to-day and your entire life,” she says.

On top of her local board service and volunteerism, Olenski crafted a new, community-focused role for herself at Morningstar, the company she joined as a trading and operations specialist in 2020. As community engagement manager, Olenski now creates programs and policies that allow Morningstar employees across the globe to engage more deeply with their own communities.

Olenski is also the co-chair of Young Leaders Fund (YLF), the Trust affinity fund that serves as a training ground for young philanthropists. YLF allows Olenski to activate her passion for giving back to local nonprofits while helping other young Chicagoans discover the joy of getting more involved in their community. Under Olenski’s leadership, YLF has soared to its highest participation in years.

“YLF is a unique opportunity for young Chicagoans to learn about philanthropy while connecting with each other and some of our region’s most amazing nonprofits,” Olenski says. “For me, it’s been so rewarding to see how a small grant from YLF can help a small but mighty organization catapult to the next level.”