Our Community Comes Together
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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
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
Immediate Past President, Marilyn Calciano
Vice President (retired), Morgan Stanley
Emily Buchbinder, Esq.
Attorney, Law Office of Emily J. Buchbinder
Liliana Diaz
Family Law Attorney, The Grunsky Law Firm
Larry Donatoni
Senior Director for Development, Santa Clara University
Judy Franich
Community volunteer & retired school teacher
Janet Heien
Director of Human Resources (retired), Driscoll's
Fred Keeley
Former Speaker Pro Tempore, California State Assembly
Chris Murphy
President, Santa Cruz Warriors LLC
Carlos Palacios
County Administrative Officer, County of Santa Cruz
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
Executive Director, Central Coast Water Quality Preservation, Inc.
Trevor Strudley
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
- Marilyn Calciano, Immediate Past President
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
- Marilyn Calciano
- David Doolin
- Janet Heien
- Pat Kelly*
- Kirk Schmidt
- Trevor Strudley
- Jim 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.
- Jim Thompson*, Chair
- Tom Brezsny*
- Larry Donatoni
- Dina Hoffmann*
- Tony Pricard
- 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.
- Carlos Palacios, Chair
- Rob Allen*
- Rob Bremner*
- Fred Keeley
- Jim 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
- Liliana Diaz
- David Doolin
- Cynthia Druley*
- Judy Franich
- Janet Heien
- Fred Keeley
- Jessica Locatelli*
- Rogelio Ponce
- Jim Weisenstein
Identifies and recruits new board members, develops and implements ongoing board training and assessment programs.
- Janet Heien, Chair
- Marilyn Calciano
- Freny Cooper
- David Doolin
- Julie Haff
- Carlos Palacios
Recommends policies and oversees scholarship administration. Selects the scholarship recipients.
- Donna Ziel*, Chair
- Emily Buchbinder
- Marilyn Calciano
- Liliana Diaz
- Judy Franich
- Julie Haff
Creates policies and loan criteria, provides portfolio oversight, and reviews potential impact investments
- Trevor Strudley, Chair
- Marilyn Calciano
- Freny Cooper
- Larry Donatoni
- Fred Keeley
- 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*
- Mitch Medina*
- 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.