Trustees & Staff

Bill came to the Trust in late 2020 after serving as the President & CEO of the Santa Fe Community Foundation in New Mexico, where his leadership led to significant growth and focus to the agency’s grantmaking and impact investing portfolios. Prior to moving into philanthropy, he spent 25 years in DC and New York City working in the nonprofit sector in policy and advocacy around various health and rights issues, as well as leading a national membership association made up of state, local, and territorial health departments. He also had a life in academia and taught at the University of New Mexico in the area of politics and health. He has served on many advisory groups and Boards of Directors and currently serves on the Board of Funders for LGBT Issues.

Prior to joining the Trust in 2018, Amy spent seven years at Pacific Foundation Services serving as Senior Program Officer and Executive Director for multiple clients including Sunlight Giving and the Morris Stulsaft Foundation, Program Director for the Walter S. Johnson Foundation, and Program Officer at the Stuart Foundation. Prior to entering philanthropy, Amy was the founding Executive Director of the Alameda County Foster Youth Alliance, a coalition organization that advocated for systems improvement for foster youth. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Theater Arts from Fordham University and a Master’s degree in Human Resources and Organizational Development from the University of San Francisco.

Dan joined the Trust in 2014 and has worked in domestic and international philanthropy and grantmaking since 2006. In recent years he has served in various leadership roles with the Northern California chapter of PEAK Grantmaking (formerly the Grants Managers Network) and was a co-chair of the 2018 PEAK Grantmaking national conference. Dan received a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from the College of William and Mary, and a Master’s degree in Music History from the University of Virginia.

Jeanine Joined the Trust in 2021 bringing more than 25 years of experience working as a clinician, administrator, fundraiser, and community collaborator. Jeanine has held leadership roles at non-profit organizations that focus on advocacy and community involvement for individuals who are often overlooked. Prior to joining the Trust, Jeanine was the Director of Clinical Services and Research at My Possibilities in Plano Texas, which provides adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities a pathway to education, training, inclusion, and a meaningful life. Jeanine received her Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, her Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Texas at Austin, and a PhD in Public Policy and Political Economy from the University of Texas at Dallas.

Elisabeth joined the Trust in 2013, and she brings more than fifteen years of experience in research and evaluation in K-16 education. Prior to joining the Trust, Elisabeth was a Senior Analyst for Research and Policy at Breakthrough Collaborative, where her research and writing focused on policies and practices to increase educational opportunities for underserved students. Elisabeth received a Bachelor’s degree in American Studies from Barnard College and a Master’s degree in Public Affairs from Brown University. She represents the Trust with the Youth Transitions Funders Group and the California College Pathways Funder Alliance.

Janet returned to the Trust in 2021 and brings over 25 years of experience supporting philanthropy, the nonprofit sector, and government. Prior to re-joining the Trust, Janet was the Volunteer Coordinator at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens and a Finance Technician for the City of Fort Bragg, CA. She previously served the Trust for five years as Grants Manager. Janet received a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering from Virginia Tech and a Master’s degree in Information Management from The George Washington University.

Prior to joining the Trust in 2023, Sam served as Executive Director of the Homeless Resource Council of the Sierras where he led the planning and administration of two homeless Continuums of Care in Northern California. Before that, he spent over 10 years working in the military and veteran community first as an active duty enlisted Marine then as a Program Officer with the Bob Woodruff Foundation. Sam is a proud graduate of City College of San Francisco, and earned an undergraduate degree in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Master of Business Administration from the Graduate School of Management at the University of California, Davis.

Before joining the Trust in the fall of 2018, Kelly spent 20 years working in program development and systems change related work at the intersection of affordable housing and healthcare services for older adults and other vulnerable populations. He has worked for multiple national intermediaries and nonprofit organizations such as the Corporation for Supportive Housing, NeighborWorks America, and SAGE. Kelly completed his undergraduate degree in African-American and American Studies, and his Master’s degree in Urban Planning with a concentration in Real Estate Finance and Housing Policy, at the University of Kansas.

Patricia, who returned to the Trust in 2018, has over 25 years of administrative support experience in philanthropy and the nonprofit sector in the San Francisco Bay Area. In addition to positions in membership services and development at both small and large nonprofit organizations, she has also been an administrative assistant at several Bay Area universities, including UC Berkeley, UCSF, San Francisco State University, and the University of San Francisco’s Institute for Nonprofit Organization Management. She holds a Master’s degree in English from Boston University and earned her Bachelor’s degree in English and French from UC Davis.