About
CoMission
Rooted in Hawaiʻi, CoMission partners with Indigenous-led and community-rooted organizations to build the systems they need to sustain their work
OUR STORY
Partners in impact
CoMission was founded to address a gap many mission-driven organizations face: a strong vision, but limited infrastructure to sustain and grow it.
Born from a partnership of nonprofit leaders, financial practitioners, and community builders, CoMission came together in 2025 with a shared belief that organizations doing meaningful work deserve the operational foundation to do it well.
From our roots in Hawaiʻi, a pioneering hub for Indigenous-led work, we extend our partnerships across Indigenous communities — strengthening the financial, operational, and organizational systems that help mission-driven organizations lead with stability and confidence.
What We Offer
We believe Indigenous-led and community-rooted organizations should be:
FINANCIALLY
STRONG
With the systems and resources to sustain their work.
CULTURALLY
GROUNDED
Guided by community values and lived knowledge.
SELF
DETERMINED
Leading their own path toward long-term impact.
Our role is to support that work, so organizations can continue showing up for their communities.
Our Team
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Joel Olani Lilly
FOUNDER & PRINCIPAL
Olani brings over 25 years of experience advancing equity and justice for Native Hawaiian and underserved communities. As founder of CoMission and Changemakers Community Economic Development Corporation, she has secured over $20 million in philanthropic and grant funding. Her background spans educational administration, nonprofit consulting, and large-scale project management. She holds a Master's in Public Administration from UH Mānoa and is a certified professional fundraiser through Boston University. -
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Doris Tinsley (Shinnecock)
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER & INDIGENOUS PEOPLES LIASON
Doris bridges high-level operations with deep community engagement across CoMission's work. With a background directing workforce development programs at Changemakers Hawaiʻi, she brings extensive experience in federal compliance, service delivery, and daily operations. A committed advocate for Indigenous-led funding models, Doris leads tribal partnership development and resource mobilization for underserved communities. -
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Christian McAdams
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION
Christian is a finance professional with over 12 years of experience across the financial and military sectors. At Changemakers Community Economic Development Corp, he oversees million-dollar budgets and strategic fiscal planning. A U.S. Marine Corps veteran and current Hawaii Army National Guard member, he holds a B.S. in Finance and Economics from Hawaiʻi Pacific University and a nonprofit finance certificate from Cornell. -
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Ruth Iʻi Lilly
DIGITAL CONTENT & ENGAGEMENT STRATEGIST
Iʻi is a conservationist and digital strategist based in Hilo, committed to bridging ancestral wisdom with modern storytelling. At CoMission, she amplifies Indigenous-led initiatives through content and community outreach. She serves as a Mālama ʻĀina Technician at HuiMAU, brings 12 years of training with Hālau o Kekuhi, and is currently a student at Hawaiʻi Community College.
Let’s build something that lasts
Our work is designed to strengthen your organization from the inside out, aligning systems, people and resources so your mission can grow sustainably.