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, Julie Haff
Superintendent (retired), San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District
Vice President, Trevor Strudley, CFP
Certified Financial Planner, Raymond James Financial Services
Treasurer, Jim Weisenstein
Director, Santa Cruz County Bank
Secretary, Chris Murphy
Senior Vice President, Franchise Development, Santa Cruz Warriors
Immediate Past President, David Doolin, CPA
Partner, Petrinovich Pugh & Co LLP
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
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.
MariaElena de la Garza
Executive Director, Community Action Board Santa Cruz County
Doug Fischer
SVP Director of Business Banking, Santa Cruz County Bank
Board Committees
Meets at the call of the president to conduct the business of the Board between regular or special Board meetings.
- Julie Haff, President
- Trevor Strudley, Vice President
- Jim Weisenstein, Treasurer
- David Doolin, Immediate Past President
- Chris Murphy, 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
- Janet Heien
- Kirk Schmidt
- Sandy Skees
- Trevor Strudley
- Pat Kelly*
- James C. Thompson*
- Lance Wexler*
- Jessica Locatelli*
- Krista Snelling*
- Freny Cooper*
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
- Larry Donatoni
- Kirck Schmidt
- Tom Brezsny*
- Dina Hoffmann*
- Victoria Viso*
Sets direction for grants program, identifies funding priorities, reviews and recommends proposals for funding, and participates in site visits.
- David Doolin, Co-Chair
- Chris Murphy, Co-Chair
- Gina Castañeda
- Liliana Diaz
- Larry Donatoni
- Judy Franich
- Julie Haff
- Janet Heien
- Rogelio Ponce
- Jim Weisenstein
- Doug Fischer
- MariaElena de la Garza
- Cynthia Druley*
- Adele Eberhart*
Identifies and recruits new board members, develops and implements ongoing board training and assessment programs.
- Janet Heien, Chair
- David Doolin
- Julie Haff
- Kirk Schmidt
Recommends policies and oversees scholarship administration. Selects the scholarship recipients.
- Liliana Diaz, Chair
- Gina Castañeda
- Julie Haff
- Judy Franich
- Donna Ziel*
Creates policies and loan criteria, provides portfolio oversight, and reviews potential impact investments
- Trevor Strudley, Chair
- Larry Donatoni
- Rogelio Ponce
- Sandy Skees
- Jim Weisenstein
- Eric Mendelson*
- Michael O'Farrell*
Reviews proposal for the Diversity Partnership Fund and recommends funding to enhance services for the LGBTQ community, and creates and builds alliances.
- Chris Murphy
- Sandy Skees
- Jim Brown*
- Ami Ebright*
- Damian Maldonado*, Co-Chair
- Rabbi Paula Marcus*
- Erica Murphy*, Co-Chair
- Chris Weir*
* Non-board members
Non board members are invited to share their time and expertise on our standing and ad hoc committees.