Our Team
Meet The Foundation Staff
Susan True
Chief Executive Officer
In her role as Chief Executive Officer of Community Foundation Santa Cruz County, Susan continues her lifelong commitment to work that improves lives and strengthens communities. Contact her at 831.662.2010 or email strue@cfscc.org.
Philanthropic Services
Community Engagement and Impact
Finance and Administration
Meet Our Board Leadership
President, Jim Weisenstein
Director, West Coast Community Bank
Vice President, Doug Fischer
SVP Director of Business Banking, West Coast Community Bank
Treasurer, Kirk Schmidt, Esq.
Executive Director, Central Coast Water Quality Preservation, Inc.
Secretary, Chris Murphy
Senior Vice President, Franchise Development, Santa Cruz Warriors (not pictured)
Rob Allen
Partner at Allen, Allen & Caroselli Law Firm
Audries Blake
Assistant Director of Community Relations, UC Santa Cruz (not pictured)
Gina Castañeda
Juvenile Probation Officer, Santa Cruz County Probation Department
MariaElena De La Garza
Executive Director, Community Action Board Santa Cruz County
Liliana Diaz, Esq.
Family Law Attorney, The Grunsky Law Firm (not pictured)
Lisa Fraser
Retired Superintendent of Loma Prieta Joint Union Elementary K-8 School District
Edward Newman
Founder & Attorney, Newman & Marcus
Samuel Pun
Director, Freestone Capital Management (not pictured)
Dane Scurich
President, Scurich Berry
Sandy Skees
EVP/Global Lead, Innovation & Impact Practice, Porter Novelli
Peter Weng
Founder, EWS Collective
Board Committees
Meets at the call of the president to conduct the business of the Board between regular or special Board meetings.
- Jim Weisenstein, President
- Doug Fischer, Vice President
- Kirk Schmidt, Treasurer
- Chris Murphy, Secretary
- Liliana Diaz
Reviews quarterly investment performance and financial statements, sets investment policy, monitors and approves investment allocations, selects financial advisors, advises the board on budgetary issues, spending policies, fees, impact investments and makes recommendations to the board on finance and gift acceptance policies and procedures.
- Kirk Schmidt, Chair
- Rob Allen
- Sam Pun
- Sandy Skees
- Trevor Strudley
- Marilyn Calciano*
- David Doolin*
- Pat Kelly*
- Jessica Locatelli*
- Dane Scurich
- Krista Snelling*
- James C. Thompson*
- Lance Wexler*
Advises on considering, accepting or rejecting any and all gifts or bequests to the Foundation that cannot be accepted by the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Operating and Financial Officer, or the Philanthropic Services Director in accordance with the gift acceptance policy.
- Larry Donatoni
- Doug Fischer
- Kirk Schmidt
- Trevor Strudley
- James C. Thompson, Chair*
- Tom Brezsny*
- Dina Hoffman*
- Victoria Viso*
Sets direction for grants program, identifies funding priorities, reviews and recommends proposals for funding, and participates in site visits.
- Chris Murphy, Chair
- Audries Blake
- Gina Castañeda
- MariaElena De La Garza
- Larry Donatoni*
- Liliana Diaz
- Lisa Fraser
- Doug Fischer
- Sam Pun
- Sandy Skees
- Adele Eberhart*
Identifies and recruits new board members, develops and implements ongoing board training and assessment programs.
- Liliana Diaz, Chair
- MariaElena De La Garza
- Lisa Fraser
- Jim Weisenstein
Recommends policies and oversees scholarship administration. Selects the scholarship recipients.
- Lisa Fraser, Chair
- Audries Blake
- Gina Castañeda
- Liliana Diaz
- Julie Haff*
- Donna Ziel*
* Non-board members
Non board members are invited to share their time and expertise on our standing and ad hoc committees.