With sadness and gratitude, we remember Jill Soffer, who passed away at 64 last October in Carbondale – the place she built her home and life after forming a deep connection with the Roaring Fork Valley in her youth. Jill was a Colorado-based philanthropist and passionate WRA donor focused on climate action.
A commitment to environmentalism was the through line in her professional, creative, and philanthropic pursuits. After college, she worked as an interior designer and LEED developer of sustainable homes in California. She later founded Our Part, a foundation focused on fighting the climate crisis and protecting democracy for all. Jill also launched Banking for Climate, a network of high net-worth individuals pressuring their banks to stop funding fossil fuel expansion. Using real estate as another giving tool, she dedicated significant acreage of her own land as a conservation easement – forever protecting it for wildlife and future generations.
In 2018, Jill was the first donor to support the Climate Fix – WRA’s initiative to decarbonize the power sector across the interior West and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions consistent with climate science.
Jill modeled a life of small and large actions that are collectively leading to a brighter climate future.
Jill’s early and significant support inspired others to join us and compounded into extraordinary progress. It was an honor to have her as a partner and to share the progress she helped launch. Jill was generous – and a true climate warrior who led with conviction and heart. I feel lucky to have had her support and her friendship.
