Jennifer Risher is an author, speaker, philanthropist, and investor on a mission to move money out of the taboo category and help us have much-needed conversations. Her book, “We Need to Talk: A Memoir About Wealth,” explores the impact of wealth on identity and relationships. In sharing her story, Jennifer aims to validate the emotional complexities of money and help people move out of guilt, shame, or a desire to keep money hidden and into meaning, joy, and purpose.
Jennifer was born in Seattle, Washington, grew up in Oregon, and graduated from Connecticut College. She joined Microsoft in 1991 where she worked as a recruiter and then as a product manager. As an extra-fortunate beneficiary of the dot-com boom, she believes abundance can fuel action and drive change — and uses her voice and resources to create more economic, gender, and racial equity.
In 2020, Jennifer and her husband, David, launched #HalfMyDAF to inspire more charitable giving (which earned her a place in Forbes 50 Over 50 in 2025.) Over the last six years, they’ve contributed millions in matching funds, rallied donors and nonprofits, and created a community that has moved over $97 million to nonprofits. Jennifer also invests with women of color fund managers and in underserved communities.
Jennifer and David live in San Francisco, where David is CEO of Lyft. Jennifer loves playing and watching tennis and spending time with her two twenty-something daughters. She is on the board of Women Moving Millions and GivingTuesday and is a member of Solidaire and Women Donors Network.