Welcoming Mia Wais as EPI’s Director of Philanthropy

Mia Wais, EPI's Director of Philanthropy.

At EPI, conservation has always been about more than science. It’s about people: students, educators, communities, and supporters working together to protect the natural world. That’s why we’re thrilled to welcome Mia Wais as EPI’s new Director of Philanthropy. Mia joins our team with a passion for building relationships and helping supporters feel deeply connected to the impact they make.

Just as Mia is new to EPI, so is her job title. This doesn’t mean the position didn’t exist before. Over the years, it has evolved, from Advancement Director to Development Director. While this might seem like a small detail, the change in name carries real meaning. It reflects what philanthropy is at its core: a love for people. And that idea sits at the very heart of EPI’s mission.

This shift is the result of a process EPI has been intentionally building for several years, moving fundraising away from simply asking for support, and toward building relationships. Relationships that are meaningful, lasting, and rooted in shared values. This is exactly where Mia Wais comes in.

Originally from California and now based in Texas, Mia brings a broad professional background across diverse sectors, including health care, housing, and disability advocacy. As she puts it herself, “I’ve always been drawn to work where relationships matter.”

Mia's daughters walking in nature

“Development, in general, has never been just about fundraising to me,” she says. “It’s about connecting people to something meaningful and then watching what happens when they feel part of it.”

So, what do we mean by relational fundraising? It’s about creating genuine, long-term relationships with donors and partners. It’s about recognizing that people are not just donors, they can be true partners in an organization’s mission.

Melissa Segura, EPI’s Development Manager, captures this idea perfectly. One of the things she loves most about working in fundraising, she says, is that “we are basically sharing stories with people.”

“We are connectors,” Melissa explains. “We are that voice within the organization that shares what is happening, how programs are impacting people, and how supporters can be more actively involved in conservation. We show how EPI continues to engage alumni in different ways, and how we measure our impact, which is incredibly important.”

From her perspective, EPI strives to help people around the world understand the impact of its work, regardless of distance. That means helping someone who lives far from the ocean see how their support contributes to sea turtle conservation or helping communities in Latin America understand the importance of projects in places like Yellowstone. Through conservation, EPI connects people across geographies and experiences.

For Mia, that sense of connection is what drew her to EPI in the first place.

“When I learned more about EPI’s mission and community, it felt like a place where those connections truly live,” she says. “People don’t give because they’re asked, they give because they genuinely care. I want our long-term legacy donors to feel connected not just for themselves, but for their children and grandchildren. My role is to help them see how their support directly connects to something meaningful and real at EPI.”

Meaghan Loos-Becht, who has been part of EPI’s fundraising team for years, starting as a volunteer and now serving as Impact Giving Specialist, also shares that excitement for this new chapter.

“I’m excited to strengthen our connection with EPI alumni by reminding them how transformative their experience was and showing them that the same impact is still happening today,” Meaghan says. “Students and teachers continue to return more confident, inspired, and motivated, just as they once did. I’m eager to help keep that impact moving forward with this team, led by Mia.”

In a world full of social and environmental challenges, where everything moves fast and daily life consumes most of our time and energy, being able to connect with organizations that are doing hands-on, meaningful work matters more than ever. And for us, a relational approach to philanthropy feels like the best way forward.

We’re excited to welcome Mia to EPI and wish her all the best in this new chapter!