Our Team
COVID 19 UPDATE: In compliance with the County of Santa Cruz’s Shelter in Place Order, the Community Foundation building is closed and our staff are working from home. The best way to contact us is through email. Thank you.
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.
Community Engagement and Impact
Philanthropic Services
Finance and Administration
Meet Our Board Leadership
President, David Doolin, CPA
Partner, Petrinovich Pugh & Co LLP
Vice President, Freny Cooper
Chief Operating Officer, Monterey Bay Economic Partnership
Treasurer, Jim Weisenstein
Director, Santa Cruz County Bank
Secretary, Julie Haff
Superintendent (retired), San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District
Emily Buchbinder, Esq.
Attorney, Law Office of Emily J. Buchbinder
Gina Castañeda
Juvenile Probation Officer, Santa Cruz County Probation Department
Liliana Diaz, Esq.
Family Law Attorney, The Grunsky Law Firm
Larry Donatoni
Senior Director for Development, Santa Clara University
Judy Franich
Community Volunteer & School Teacher (retired)
Janet Heien
Director of Human Resources (retired), Driscoll's
Chris Murphy
President, Santa Cruz Warriors LLC
Tonée Picard
Executive VP/ Chief Development Officer, Bay Federal Credit Union
Rogelio Ponce Jr.
Owner, Sun Valley Berries LLC
Sandy Skees
EVP/Global Lead, Innovation & Impact Practice, Porter Novelli
Kirk Schmidt, Esq.
Executive Director, Central Coast Water Quality Preservation, Inc.
Trevor Strudley, CFP
Certified Financial Planner, Raymond James Financial Services
Board Committees
Meets at the call of the president to conduct the business of the Board between regular or special Board meetings.
- David Doolin, President
- Freny Cooper, Vice President
- Jim Weisenstein, Treasurer
- Julie Haff, Secretary
- Janet Heien
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.
- Jim Weisenstein, Chair
- Emily Buchbinder
- David Doolin
- Janet Heien
- Pat Kelly*
- Kirk Schmidt
- Trevor Strudley
- 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.
- James C. Thompson*, Chair
- Tom Brezsny*
- Larry Donatoni
- Dina Hoffmann*
- Tonée Picard
- Victoria Viso*
Oversees the internal accounting, accuracy and integrity of the financial accounting, disclosure controls and assess management risk, in communication with an independent auditor. They also maintain independence, manage the auditor, handle complaints and engage third-party advisors when necessary, including the retention and termination of the independent auditor.
- Freny Cooper
- Rob Allen*
- Rob Bremner*
- James C. Thompson*
Sets direction for grants program, identifies funding priorities, reviews and recommends proposals for funding, and participates in site visits.
- Freny Cooper, Co-chair
- Julie Haff, Co-chair
- Gina Castañeda
- Liliana Diaz
- David Doolin
- Cynthia Druley*
- Adele Eberhart*
- Judy Franich
- Janet Heien
- Jessica Locatelli*
- Chris Murphy
- Rogelio Ponce
- Jim Weisenstein
Identifies and recruits new board members, develops and implements ongoing board training and assessment programs.
- Janet Heien, Chair
- Freny Cooper
- David Doolin
- Julie Haff
Recommends policies and oversees scholarship administration. Selects the scholarship recipients.
- Donna Ziel*, Chair
- Emily Buchbinder
- Liliana Diaz
- Judy Franich
- Julie Haff
Creates policies and loan criteria, provides portfolio oversight, and reviews potential impact investments
- Trevor Strudley, Chair
- Freny Cooper
- Larry Donatoni
- Eric Mendelson*
- Michael O'Farrell*
- Kirk Schmidt
- Sandy Skees
- Jim Weisenstein
Reviews proposal for the Diversity Partnership Fund and recommends funding to enhance services for the LGBTQ community, and creates and builds alliances.
- Jim Brown*, Chair
- Ami Ebright*
- Damian Maldonado*
- Rabbi Paula Marcus*
- Erica Murphy*
- Sandy Skees
- Chris Weir*
* Non-board members
Non board members are invited to share their time and expertise on our standing and ad hoc committees.