Jody and her brother Paul G. Allen worked side-by-side in both business and philanthropic ventures for decades. She co-founded and is chair of Allen Family Philanthropies, which supports arts & culture, youth development, and the environment,  is chair of Fund for Science and Technology, a private foundation focused on bioscience, the environment, and AI-for-good, and serves on the board of the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence (Ai2). Jody is also founding director of MoPOP – Seattle’s critically acclaimed museum of popular culture and serves as chair of the Seattle Seahawks NFL franchise, and until early 2026 the Portland Trail Blazers NBA franchise, recognizing the role of both teams as powerful catalysts for civic pride.

As a philanthropist with a passion for conservation, she has dedicated herself to protecting marine life, fighting wildlife trafficking, and saving Africa’s elephants from extinction. She launched Wild Lives Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to wildlife conservation and other philanthropic initiatives. In addition, Jody serves as a board member of Sealife Response, Rehabilitation and Research (SR3), an organization dedicated to improving the health and welfare of marine wildlife in the Pacific Northwest.

Jody has a deep love for education and the arts. She is currently a board member of the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa, and previously served on the boards of ArtsFund, the Theatre Communications Group, the University of Washington Foundation, the Museum of Glass, the Los Angeles International Film Festival and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.