Team Bright Funds: Meet the Heroes Behind Your Impact

Introducing Michelle Marinas, our Customer Support Superstar

At Bright Funds, we believe in a world where every person’s positive impact is multiplied, and it’s not just something we say. We know that putting it into practice requires a wide range of expertise at the intersection of business, technology and society. Our team is not only a diverse, talented bunch (the best we can hire), but everyone is dedicated and passionate about helping people and companies of all sizes do good to brighten the world. United by values including client focus, agility, innovation and transparency, we aim to brighten the world by empowering people and companies to do good.In this series, we will pull the curtain back to introduce you to some of the superheroes behind our mission. First up is Michelle Marinas, Head of Customer Support at Bright Funds. In addition to taking excellent care of our clients, Michelle also manages the day to day needs of the Bright Funds team as Office Manager. She received her B.S. in Health Science/Community Health at Fresno State and her M.A. in Education from San Jose State University where she focused on Counseling, Career Development and Workplace Culture. Her passions include workplace happiness, mental health and tech for good.

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself – who are you, what do you do at Bright Funds, what do you do in your spare time?

I’m the Office Manager and Head of Customer Support at Bright Funds! You’ve probably seen my face pop up on our website to help answer your questions. In my spare time, I like to take my dog to different parks around the Bay Area, try out new foods (eating and cooking!) and watch movies on my “must watch” list – recommendations are always welcome!

2. What has been one of your favorite projects thus far at Bright Funds and why?

I absolutely loved revamping our Help Center! It will always be a work in progress as questions evolve and new situations arise. But it’s been fun to organize the content to help users find information they need quickly.

3. What do you think customers love the most about Bright Funds?

Our clients love the simplicity of our platform and responsiveness of our support team. We are always looking for ways to improve the user experience, and want users to get the best experience possible when they visit our platform. But don’t take it from me - here’s what our clients say: "Outstanding customer service. "Fast and friendly!" "It’s so easy to use that there’s no time commitment for me to learn a new tool." "[Creating a Bright Funds campaign] was very intuitive and easy to set up!” "Bright Funds makes it too easy to donate and give back!""It was very easy to make the donation and it felt very rewarding!"

4. What do you love the most about Bright Funds?

I love our mission – helping make the world a better place, no matter how small an act, has always been important to me. I am so happy my role allows me to help others do good in the world. Working with a fabulous team who feels the same way is another thing I love about Bright Funds! The people I work with are passionate about the work we do to facilitate good energy into the world and into the lives of others.

5. Do you have a favorite impact story or data point you can share?

It’s not so much a favorite story, but the interactions I see in response to social issues or disaster relief efforts come to mind. It’s inspiring to see the Bright Funds community come together to support one another for equality, Black Lives Matter (BLM), Stop Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Hate, wildfires, floods, COVID, and other causes around the globe. It’s also a reminder that there are good intentions in human beings.

6. Can you tell us one thing about yourself that most people don’t know?

I played the violin for years during my elementary school days. Looking back, one of my biggest accomplishments at the time was being invited to practice sessions at our middle school and later giving a solo performance at the school concert!

7. What cause(s) are you passionate about and why?

Science and education have always been important to me, as well as local community programs. Growing up in a small town, our mentoring resources for young people weren’t as abundant as they are now. Giving back to youth to help them feel empowered, heard and confident is one of the most rewarding things I have ever experienced. I’m looking forward to doing more work with students who are trying to find their path in life.

To learn more about the Bright Funds team and stay in the loop, connect with us on LinkedIn!