Meet Our Staff

President & CEO Jackie Carrera is passionate about the vital role that community foundations play in creating strong communities. She is continually impressed by Santa Barbara’s sense of place and the love that people have for their county. Whether it’s a neighbor struggling with basic needs such as access to healthy food, housing or employment, or the region facing the threat of a natural disaster, Jackie has found that people want to know what they can do to help. She is inspired to help them make that connection – the nexus of which represents the power, resilience and beauty of the human spirit.

Jackie came to SBF in 2018 as the Chief Revenue & Business Development Officer during which time she led the Foundation’s efforts to drive new revenue opportunities, refine its business model, and continue the development of the donor base and endowment. She stepped into a role as the Foundation’s Interim CEO in January of 2020 and was named the President & CEO in April of 2020.

As the President & CEO, Jackie provides leadership to promote the fulfillment of SBF’s vision, mission, and strategic plan and serves as a spokesperson for SBF, building relationships with nonprofit , business, and public sector leaders, donors and the community.

Prior to joining the Foundation, Jackie served as the President & CEO of the Parks & People Foundation in Maryland for over two decades during which time the organization became a national leader in urban parks and recreation, ecosystem research and education, watershed restoration, job training and workforce development, and innovative programming for youth. She has served as a consultant to nonprofits on fundraising, governance and management. Jackie received her BBA in Finance from Loyola University in Maryland.

Tammy is inspired by the personal act of philanthropy as a tool for social change, and how giving can transform communities and improve the lives of our most vulnerable populations.

As Vice President of Philanthropic Services, Tammy Sims Johnson provides overall leadership and management for the Foundation’s development, donor relations, and communications teams. Prior to joining SBF, she worked at the California Community Foundation as Director of Donor Relations and Senior Philanthropic Advisor responsible for stewarding relationships with individuals, families, and corporations to help them achieve their vision for meaningful giving.

Tammy holds a bachelor’s degree in print journalism, with a minor in International Relations, from the University of Southern California, and a Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP®) designation from the American College of Financial Services. She also graduated from the USC Marshall School of Business with a Master of Science in Social Entrepreneurship. Her first job out of college was as a summer intern reporter for the Los Angeles Times. Tammy is also a proud baseball and stage mom to her twin sons.

Vice President of Programs Liz Thasiah is passionate about the wellbeing of people and communities and recognizes the vital role community foundations play in addressing local needs and promoting positive social change. As Vice President of Programs and part of the executive team, Liz has overall strategic oversight of SBF’s programmatic and community work, including strategic initiatives and partnerships, grant-making, evaluation and learning, and the Collaboration for Social Impact teams. Liz seeks to contribute to a world where people thrive and understands that meeting people’s basic needs is the first form of love.

A long-time South Coast resident, Liz brings some 15 years of experience – most recently four years with the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, where she led local and national level strategies of the Foster Youth initiative and the development of a $125 million five-year strategic plan to erase disparities in education, employment, housing, healthcare, and well-being that affect transition age foster youth. Previously, Liz served for six years as division manager with Ventura County’s Children and Family Services and Behavioral Health agencies, and as strategy manager for the Commission for Children and Families First 5 Ventura. Liz was also the founder and Executive Director of two nonprofits serving children and families, which has deeply shaped her understanding of the critical role nonprofits have in enhancing the well-being of communities. Liz has significant experience in strategic philanthropy, program management, evaluation, operations, and community development, and prioritizes centering the voices of youth and adults with lived experience, who provide the expertise needed to address effective systems change and equitable access to resources.

Liz holds a BA in Sociology, Masters of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary, a Nonprofit MBA from St. Thomas Opus College of Business, and Executive Leadership certificates from Harvard Kenney School of Business.  Liz is also a graduate of the Council on Foundations Executive Career Pathways program and the Ventura County Leadership Academy.

Todd Yuba is grateful for the opportunity to help improve lives and build communities through his work at the Santa Barbara Foundation. He is inspired by the strength and resilience of the people and communities we serve, and by our compassionate and dedicated donors, community partners, staff, and volunteers.

As Vice President, Finance and Administration, Todd oversees the teams responsible for accounting, investments, operations, and human resources. Prior to joining the Foundation, he served at the California Community Foundation in various roles including Vice President of Finance and Vice President of Operations and Administration. Todd is a Certified Public Accountant (California – inactive) and Chartered Financial Analyst. He earned a B.S. Accounting from the University of Southern California and a M.A. Economics from California State University, Fullerton.

Daniel Aguilar is inspired by being able to be part of a team whose primary focus is to create meaningful change and improve the quality of life in Santa Barbara County.

As the Senior Accountant for SBF, Daniel provides support for the Director of Accounting and the Finance Team by assisting with the annual financial statement audit, preparation of tax returns, SBF’s annual budgets, and reviewing various accounting activities.

Prior to joining the Foundation, Daniel worked for Holthouse Carlin & Van Trigt as a Senior Accountant, where he performed audits for nonprofit organizations and Section 8 Housing.  Daniel graduated from California Lutheran University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting. In his free time, he enjoys stand-up comedy, traveling, grilling, playing competitive soccer, and spending time with his family.

Aniston joined the Santa Barbara Foundation with the aspiration of having even the smallest helping hand in its mission to connect people and resources together to build a stronger community. She thrives to have a lasting impact in her community and sees her work at the Foundation to be an integral source of doing so.

As Executive Assistant and Board Liaison, Aniston provides direct administrative support to the President & CEO and Board of Trustees, working closely with both parties to help track their annual goals and manage day-to-day tasks.

Aniston has worked directly with several nonprofit board members and volunteers in the past, including being the Executive Director, Board Member & Curator of a local art council in the Bay Area and working for a Sacramento-area nonprofit supporting mental health agencies. Aniston completed her B.A. in History of Art at the University of California, Berkeley, and has been an administrative professional for over 5 years. Having recently moved to Santa Barbara, she looks forward to exploring the vast art community and enjoying the many galleries downtown. Beyond the arts, Aniston is also passionate about investing in our public spaces to effectively provide parks, art installations, and general open communal areas for people to gather and enjoy the company of those in the community.

Bridgette’s career has centered on improving the well-being of people and the planet. After many years working in the social sector both internationally and domestically, she is thrilled to be serving Santa Barbara County where she was born and raised. She is incredibly proud of Santa Barbara’s culture of connectedness and care for one another, and is continually inspired by the area’s natural beauty.

As a Program Officer, Bridgette works across the dynamic community of nonprofit organizations in the County, focused primarily on food, shelter & safety, and housing affordability. She also supports other core program areas including conservation, environment, and health.

Prior to joining SBF, Bridgette served at a number of different nonprofit and funding organizations. Her work has been across a diverse range of focus areas allowing her the opportunity to live and work in equally dynamic contexts – from New York City to central and East Africa. Most recently, Bridgette worked as a consultant to nonprofit organizations, UN agencies, and corporations. She holds a BA from UC San Diego, an MA from USC, and an MSc from the London School of Economics. Outside of the office, she enjoys photography and spending time outdoors with her husband, son, and dog.

Community Engagement Coordinator, Maria Caudillo appreciates the opportunity to serve her beautiful community in meaningful ways, and to act on her love for the nonprofit sector.

As Community Engagement Coordinator, Maria provides support for the entire Community Engagement Department, including the Grantmaking, Strategy, and Communications Teams.

With over 15 years of experience in the nonprofit sector in various roles, Maria is fully bilingual and brings expertise in event coordination, logistics, and administrative support.

Gary grew up in a small, semi-rural town with a population of 1,500 and learned the value of community at a very young age. His key inspiration for working in the philanthropic sector is to help build and support a community where everyone feels they belong and are valued and appreciated for their contributions.

As the Director of the Collaboration for Social Impact, Gary brings his varied experience and collaborative leadership style to develop strategic partnerships, facilitate community connections and enhance nonprofit sector leadership and capacity. In addition to overseeing the Small Capacity Building Grant program, he focuses on identifying areas where the nonprofit sector needs support, and then works to build alliances and collaborations between businesses, nonprofits and government agencies to meet those needs.

Most recently, Gary was a member of the leadership team at The Fund for Santa Barbara. As Director of Capacity Building, his work served and fostered intersectionality among diverse community-based groups addressing the root causes of community problems. This included a robust nonprofit professional development program featuring nationally recognized trainers as well as the delivery of over 1,000 hours of consulting annually by a team of local issue and knowledge area experts. In addition, he co-developed and co-led a collaboration with the Santa Barbara Independent to launch Santa Barbara Gives!, which has raised over $1,000,000 for Santa Barbara County nonprofit organizations. He is a lifelong community advocate who transitioned a successful marketing/business development career in the software industry to the philanthropic sector. He holds a BA in Communications from UC Santa Barbara.

According to Director of Accounting Celine Delpoux, these words from Maya Angelou embody the driving force at the core of the Santa Barbara Foundation: its people. “It’s a real privilege and constant source of inspiration to work alongside such creative, determined and empathetic colleagues.”

Celine is responsible for overseeing accounting operations, supervising the Foundation’s accounting team, managing the annual financial statement audit, and coordinating the preparation of tax returns and SBF’s annual budgets.

Celine brings over 10 years of corporate accounting and payroll experience from a publicly traded school bus transportation company, where she managed multi-states payroll and assisted the Regional Director of Finance Operations with accounting procedures, financial reporting, revenue analysis, budget and audit preparation. Originally from France, she holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from the University of Toulouse Le Mirail. Celine also completed Business and Professional Accounting courses offered by UCSB Extension program. When she is not at work, she enjoys embarking on culinary adventures along the beautiful Central coast, as well as riding her bike across Ventura where she lives.

Stacie’s mission in life is to use data to make the world a better place. The Santa Barbara Foundation allows her to apply that passion in support of an organization with an extensive history of creating positive impact. She feels privileged to work with so many smart people devoting their talents in service to our community.

As Director of Evaluation and Learning, Stacie collaborates across teams to design and implement evaluation activities for programs, departments, and the organization. She applies evaluation insights to continually improve the quality of our programs and expand their impact.

Before joining SBF, Stacie’s work focused on program and policy evaluation. Her projects supported equal access to military service for people who identify as LGBTQ+, increasing the impact of international aid in war-torn villages in Afghanistan, increasing educational access for students from under-resourced communities in the United States, as well as ensuring diverse populations have a positive university experience while studying at home and abroad. She earned her B.A. in Sociology and Gender Studies from Vanderbilt University and her M.A. and Ph.D. in Sociology from UC Santa Barbara.

Raised in the small town of Los Alamos, Shelby grew up with a strong sense of community that now serves as motivation to foster the same for others. She is inspired by her colleagues and those within the community to help improve the quality of life within beautiful Santa Barbara County.

In her role as Donor Services Coordinator, Shelby is responsible for the seamless administration of fund development transactions including all aspects of gift processing and grant distributions. She focuses on maintaining the integrity of all donor activities with regard to their philanthropic fund and participates in the overall success of the Philanthropic Services Department.

Shelby earned a Bachelor degree in Sports and Recreation Management. In her free time, she enjoys cooking new recipes, live music, and enjoying the beautiful Central Coast with her husband and their two dogs.

Luke brings his background in commercial video production and digital advertising to create multi-format digital engagement campaigns that drive engagement. A native of Ojai, California, he has optimized the digital footprint of Southern California startups, universities and nonprofit organizations. Luke received his BA in Film & Technology Management from the University of California, Santa Barbara and an AA from Santa Barbara City College. From interning at film production companies to working as an independent consultant for software firms, he continues to focus on turning digital analytics into strategic practice.

As the Digital Marketing & Communications Officer of the Santa Barbara Foundation, Luke is constantly inspired by his talented colleagues and the profound impact of the Foundation’s work. Working across digital channels, his efforts center around informing the Foundation’s audience and potential audience of all that the organization is up to. Thus, supporting the Philanthropic Services team and the entirety of the organization is at the top of his priority list.

Apart from work, Luke enjoys traveling across the world, competing in any and all recreational sports, and attending concerts with his friends and family.

Peter joined the Santa Barbara Foundation with the goal of learning how to build and maintain strong donor relationships.  With a background in sales, he enjoys using his logical temper and communication skills to solve problems and help donors accomplish their philanthropic intentions.

Peter came to Santa Barbara for school after growing up in Minneapolis.  He graduated from Westmont College with a B.A. in Economics and Business.  In his free time, he can almost always be found spending time outside in nature, planning his next trip, or playing and/or watching any manner of sports.

As our new Director of Grantmaking, Jenny is responsible for creating and managing our grant programs for maximum and diverse impact.

Jenny has led nonprofit organizations for 25+ years and loves how they enrich our community and lives. She is grateful for this opportunity to work alongside the staff of the Santa Barbara Foundation, advancing the amazing work of the nonprofits in the County.

A passionate animal lover and environmentalist, her nonprofit career included multiple startups, most recently at MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation, where she served as both CFO and COO. Before that, she was the COO of the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History and Executive Director of the Ty Warner Sea Center.

An ardent lifelong learner, Jenny holds three degrees including a BA in Integrative Biology, the University of California at Berkeley, an MS in zoology from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and an MBA from California State University at Long Beach.

When not at work, Jenny enjoys playing tennis, walking her dogs, or crafting unsightly and ridiculously heavy clay cups and bowls on the City College pottery wheels.

Kevin was born and raised in Goleta and loves almost everything about this extraordinary community. Kevin is driven to help provide a better life and more opportunity for everyone in the community that has given so much to him over the years.

As the Business Development Manager, Kevin has a range of responsibilities related to raising philanthropic resources through partnerships with local corporations and professional advisors. Some of his primary duties include building and cultivating new relationships, organizing networking events, and developing educational materials to keep partners informed about the foundation’s important mission and work.

Before joining the Santa Barbara Foundation, Kevin worked in the marketing and communications technology industry, focusing on building lasting relationships with businesses to maximize customer value and ROI. In addition, he has many years of experience as a water polo coach, third-grade swim program coordinator, and teacher in the Santa Barbara area. Outside of work, Kevin enjoys spending time with his family, gardening, golfing, and generally exploring and learning new things about this beautiful town!

Andrea Light is inspired by the process of individuals coming together and making an impact on the broader community. The values and passions of her colleagues at the Santa Barbara Foundation and the Santa Barbara County community are Andrea’s greatest motivations to come to work every day and be a part of something bigger than herself.

During her tenure with the Foundation, Andrea has held roles in the Philanthropic Services Department and, currently, in the Finance Department. In her current role as Investments and Accounting Analyst, she focuses on the operational aspects of SBF’s investment portfolios and financial accounts, assisting with audit schedules, private market funds accounting, and account reconciliations.

In addition to her Foundation experience, Andrea has worked in institutional investments, media sales, and was a flight attendant. She served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Paraguay and holds a BA in Anthropology from Cal State Los Angeles.

As Senior Director of Finance, Janet Mocker is energized by working together with her teammates to achieve shared goals and improve operating efficiency.

Prior to joining the Foundation in 2013, Janet spent five years as the senior financial analyst responsible for Sarbanes-Oxley compliance at the Redmond, Washington branch of Aerojet-Rocketdyne, Inc. Previously, she was director of finance and administration, and a member of the executive leadership team, at rpiprint.com. During her tenure, RPI transitioned its business model from traditional to internet-based printing and nearly doubled its revenue. Prior to that, she worked as a senior accountant for the religious community of the Sisters of Providence, where she was responsible for financial reporting and investment accounting and management. Janet began her career as a staff auditor with Ernst & Young, LLP, after which she worked for several Washington State CPA firms, performing financial audits of small businesses, nonprofit organizations, and governmental entities, and preparing income tax and information returns for high net worth individuals, closely-held entities, and nonprofit organizations. She is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in accounting from the University of Washington.

Kris has always felt drawn to organizations and individuals focused on essential causes in local communities and this continues to inspire his work at the Santa Barbara Foundation. As the Senior Investment Officer, Kris is responsible for administration, reporting, and monitoring of the Foundation’s investments.

Before joining SBF, Kris worked at ImpactAssets supporting individuals and organizations seeking opportunities to catalyze long term social and environmental impact with their philanthropic investments. He has 15+ years of experience in the impact investing and financial services profession including roles with ImpactAssets, Morgan Stanley, Royal Bank of Canada, and Piper Jaffray. In a prior career, he served in positions in community and environmental planning in the Pacific Northwest. Kris has also worked and volunteered with numerous nonprofit organizations and social enterprises.

Away from work, life centers around quality time with his wife, cat, and friends. Enjoying the great outdoors, traveling, volunteering with nonprofits, and growing veggies are all hobbies close to Kris’s heart.

As the foundation’s go-to person for software issues, website maintenance, and facilities management, Senior Solutions Developer Nick Munday is inspired by ensuring nonprofits like Santa Barbara Foundation run efficiently, with technical ease.

Nick is from England, where he had his own computer service business. He comes to the foundation after four years at S.R. Hogue & Company in Santa Barbara. Nick is also the owner of Fusion Event Rentals, a local business specializing in rentals for weddings and special events.

Hazel is interested in studying social systems, learning from the lives of others, and using research to make a difference. She is excited to be a part of the Foundation and the nonprofit sector providing support to Santa Barbara County.

As Data and Administrative Associate for the Community Engagement Department, Hazel works to maintain grant and constituent databases. She provides administrative support for the entire CE department, along with processing grants and assisting with data entry.

Hazel graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a B.A. in Sociology and minors in Applied Psychology and Architecture & Urban History. In her free time, she enjoys going to the beach, making ceramics, and watching bad movies.

Jamie has always had a desire to do “something that makes a difference.” Born and raised in Santa Maria, she’s grateful for the opportunity to work for her local community through her role at the Foundation.

As a Program Officer, based in SBF’s Santa Maria office, Jamie works across the dynamic community of nonprofit organizations in the County, focusing primarily on Behavioral Health and Health Care. She also provides grantmaking and project support for the Foundation’s Central Coast Community Health Worker/Promotores Collaborative.

After graduating from UCSB with a degree in Sociology and Black Studies, Jamie moved to the Los Angeles area, where she worked more than ten years for the City of Manhattan Beach Finance Department. She and her husband were happy to leave behind the traffic of the big city to relocate to Jamie’s hometown to be closer to extended family. When Jamie is not working, she enjoys family BBQs, walking her dog on the beach, and checking out local events with her husband and three kids.

As Director of Human Resources and Operations, Evie Rangel, SHRM-SCP leads the Foundation’s HR and general operations. She believes an organization’s number one asset is its people and strives to continually innovate so that SBF’s staff and leadership team have top-notch support.

Evie previously served in HR roles at nonprofits within the county, notably with the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. She holds a BA from the University of California, San Diego, and is a Senior Certified Professional through the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM-SCP). Her professional values are humor, trust, and innovation.

Prior to making a career transition into HR, Evie worked in a variety of roles including as a professional musician, skincare educator, retail manager, and copywriter, to name a few. She enjoys pet-sitting, tide pooling, tending to her house plants, and rest.

As the Human Resources & Administrative Generalist, Yeni plans, develops, and coordinates all functions of the employee experience, ensuring equity, inclusion, and engagement. She collaborates with leaders across the organization to create and implement HR policies and practices that align with SBF’s values and goals.

Yeni is passionate about people and culture and a champion of SBF’s core values of accountability, inclusivity, and innovation. Yeni’s passion for the success of SBF’s community-based work is evident in the way she serves her colleagues and sets them up for success, offering the highest level of internal customer service and always keeping the people side of things at the forefront of how she operates.

When Yeni isn’t working, she enjoys spending time with her family and exploring the great outdoors. Her love for hiking, camping, rock climbing, and dancing is contagious, and her involvement in the community is a testament to her dedication to serving others.

Director of Donor Relations Jessica Sanchez says, “The road to effective philanthropy begins with a donor’s motivation. This reminded me that when you are inspired to give, you are often providing encouragement to other people who share passion for a cause, and this is what motivates me every day to help donors meet their charitable goals.”

Jessica is responsible for developing and strengthening relationships with donors and fund advisors, sharing best practices in philanthropic giving, strategically adding value to the donor experience through aligned giving opportunities, and facilitating meaningful engagement experiences for donors.

Prior to joining the Foundation, Jessica worked for Farmers Insurance as a customer service representative and as a tutor for Carney Educational Services. Working for Carney Educational Services, she assisted children in meeting academic and social needs. Jessica graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Global Studies and Chicano Studies and has received her Paralegal Certificate through the UCSB Extension Program.

Katherine Sanders is a seasoned writer and marketing and public relations professional. She also has extensive experience in the hospitality industry. A Los Angeles native, she and her husband moved to Santa Barbara in 2016 to open Café Ana in downtown Santa Barbara. Katherine earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from UCLA. After that, she interned at San Francisco Magazine and The Santa Barbara Independent before joining the renowned hospitality marketing and public relations agency Wagstaff Worldwide. One of her favorite things about working in communications is helping build connections between people and the world around them.

As Communications Manager, Katherine helps share the vision and work of the Santa Barbara Foundation through multiple channels, including website, print materials, and social media. She works closely with the Community Engagement and Philanthropic Services teams to support their work and the programs they lead in the community. She is humbled by the opportunity to assist in Santa Barbara Foundation’s mission to partner with nonprofits and deliver impactful change to the county.

When she’s not wordsmithing, she’s making quesadillas for her two young daughters. While she loves cooking and baking for her family, her true passion is going out with her husband and keeping up with the Santa Barbara restaurant scene.

Erika is inspired when uniquely gifted individuals combine their skillsets to create strong teams and lasting change. She is excited to be part of a group of people who are collectively geared towards the common goal of building empathetic, resilient communities.

As Senior Administrative Assistant, Erika provides administrative support for the Strategic Focus Areas and the Vice President of Programs. She works closely with many individuals to manage day-to-day tasks and keep track of various projects.

Erika has worked as a dynamic administrator over the past seven years in roles that included experience in communications, guest services, customer and donor services, and non-profit office management. Most recently, she gained legal experience at the Trust & Estates Department of a local law firm while taking classes towards her Paralegal certificate through UCSB. Erika completed her B.A. in Journalism & Media Communications with a minor in Spanish Studies at Colorado State University. When she’s not at work, Erika enjoys spending time outside enjoying all that beautiful Santa Barbara has to offer!

Judith is honored to serve as Director of Marketing and Communications, to share stories — with the community, donors, and nonprofits the Foundation supports – about impactful initiatives and opportunities that improve life for all of us in Santa Barbara County. She is excited to lead a team of professionals who enable the Foundation to accomplish its internal and external communications goals.

Prior to joining the Foundation, Judith developed and led marketing and communications for the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County for six years. She also taught high school and junior high English and ELD in local public schools and worked in for-profit marketing for a global curriculum website for teachers. She spent 10 years as publicist for UCSB Arts & Lectures.

Judith came to Santa Barbara from South Pasadena to attend UCSB, earning a B.A. in linguistics and a graduate-degree teaching credential in English. She raised her two sons in Santa Barbara and enjoyed supporting their educations with diverse volunteer service. In her free time, she spends as much time with her loved ones as possible, dances with La Boheme Productions, reviews live performances, enjoys the outdoors by hiking, paddling and traveling to “Big Nature” places, gardens and observes life in her backyard worm box, and embroiders, bakes, hunts for thrift shop treasures, and relaxes with her two cats.

Eric is the Evaluation and Learning Officer, where he assesses program impact through advanced data analysis and visualization, supporting evidence-based decision-making. He also monitors legislation and meetings at all government levels and identifies emerging policy priorities. His policy briefs recommend strategies for engaging key legislators, ensuring the Foundation’s work is responsive to policy changes.

Eric holds a Ph.D. and two Master’s degrees and enjoys using his research skills to tell stories that offer insights and new perspectives. Having taught at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and Allan Hancock College, Eric excels at making complex material accessible to a non-technical audience. He also has experience in qualitative research and has taught foreign languages like Spanish and French.

Having lived in Santa Barbara County for nearly a decade, Eric is motivated by both a desire to give back to this beautiful community and a deep awareness of the struggles many people face.

Caleb is inspired by solving complex problems and discovering new and efficient ways of carrying out organizational objectives.

As Data Administrator, Caleb oversees the upkeep and maintenance of the Foundation’s databases. He works with other departments to maintain optimum functionality of these databases and to utilize data in strategic and effective ways.

Caleb values community involvement and strives to gain firsthand experience volunteering in the nonprofit community that SBF serves. In his free time, he enjoys working with wood, exploring the outdoors, surfing and diving, and playing music with friends.

As a dedicated native of Carpinteria, Deanna Vallejo draws profound inspiration from the unwavering commitment and care exhibited by the people of Santa Barbara County, all working towards enhancing the region’s quality of life.

In her role as Grants Officer, De stands as a pivotal figure within the grantmaking team, seamlessly collaborating across all program areas. She works in concert with Finance, Philanthropic Services, and IT to ensure the implementation of innovative and efficient grantmaking processes. Deanna oversees a diverse portfolio of grant opportunities, encompassing fields such as blood research and the performing arts. Her responsibilities include cultivating and sustaining relationships with local nonprofit organizations, conducting thorough research and due diligence, providing expert technical support, and managing reporting requirements and document retention. Her unwavering passion for community support and resource accessibility underscores her work.

With over 20 years of experience in public relations, customer service, human resources, exceptional interpersonal skills, and training, De brings a wealth of expertise to the Foundation. Prior to her current role, she was as a Community Grants Program Officer. In her leisure time, she enjoys spending time with her two boys, hiking, going to the beach, taking her dog on long walks, and watching sunrises/sunsets.

Joan is inspired by the way the Santa Barbara Foundation supports our county as a whole. She appreciates the Foundation’s commitment to addressing a diverse set of issues that positively impact all of our communities.

“Santa Barbara County is a region that carries a deep history – a history spanning centuries – that has birthed beautiful architecture, art, and a love for its cultural heritage and natural resources,” Joan explained. “The Santa Barbara Foundation plays a role in nearly every aspect of the community, from the arts, to the environment, to the individual needs of its population, and I feel fortunate to be a part of that.”

As the Staff Accountant and a member of the Finance Team, Joan support the Foundation with its daily operating business functions. She works alongside the grants managers to ensure that grant payments are processed into the community in a timely and efficient manner.

Joan has over 25 years of experience working in business operations for a variety of different of organizations, including private service companies, publically traded corporations, and nonprofit business entities. Starting out as an office clerk and bookkeeper functioning under the CPA of a privately owned company, she instantly saw the need to further her education. Joan started taking college classes after work until she obtained a liberal arts degree, and from there she went on to obtain a Business degree with emphasis in accounting.

Joan is a lifelong learner and enjoys continuing education in all forms, whether it is career or interest-related. “I feel if a person stops learning they will stagnate and fall behind,” said Joan. “It is important to keep an openness and curiosity about life in all its forms.”

Susie is inspired by the heartfelt generosity of people who, through gifts of time, talent or treasure, create meaningful change in their communities. Susie enjoys connecting a donor’s passion and vision with a cause that matters most to them.

As Director of Development, Susie is responsible for a variety of fundraising efforts within SBF. Susie has worked in development for the past ten years, including corporate and foundation relations, grant writing, and donor relations. Susie is a relationship-focused fundraiser, connecting with donors over shared values and interests and a common goal of making Santa Barbara County a better place to live, raise children, and work.

Susie received bachelor’s degrees in psychology and religious studies from the University of California at Santa Barbara.  When not at work, Susie enjoys biking, hiking, and spending time with family and friends.

For Receptionist Lani Wollschlager, nurturing inspires her work at the Santa Barbara Foundation.

Lani has held various administrative roles in Santa Barbara and enjoys the variety of tasks which administrative assisting offers. She has volunteered for several nonprofits, which paved the way to finding satisfaction, value and contribution working in the nonprofit sector.

Lani enjoys the great outdoors, along with cooking, gardening and photography.

Data and Administrative Associate Regina Zeinali finds her joy and purpose through helping underserved people in the community. She brings her analytical and administrative skills to her role in Santa Barbara Foundation’s Philanthropic Services department, and draws from her extensive event experience to support the needs of the department.

Before joining the Foundation, Regina worked at the Los Angeles Jewish Home as a Development Coordinator. Prior to that, she was part of the development team as a Corporate and Media Relations representative at Valley Community Healthcare, a federally qualified healthcare center in the San Fernando Valley.

Outside the office, Regina enjoys volunteering, strolling along the coast and spending quality time with family and friends exploring her new community on the central coast.

Emily is inspired by how an operations team can be a creative, problem-solving nucleus across departments to help advance an organization’s mission. In a way, she thinks this parallels the role of the Santa Barbara Foundation, which champions collaboration across a variety of sectors, donors, and stakeholders to positively impact its local community and beyond.

As Director of Data Management and Compliance, Emily is responsible for managing charitable fund and contract compliance activities and collaborating across teams on continuous improvement projects focused on database solutions, and data integrity and analysis.

Emily holds a degree in Creative Writing from the University of Southern California. Prior to joining the Santa Barbara Foundation, she worked for 14 years at California Community Foundation in Los Angeles, primarily as Grants Director, providing compliance oversight for all charitable disbursements, ensuring quality customer support for constituents, designing workflows and data reporting, and advancing technology solutions related to grants and fund management.

Emily can often be found chasing her toddler through gardens, parks and beaches, or rocking out to their favorite records at home. She also enjoys reading and writing fiction, trying out new recipes and restaurants, and being overly invested in sports, especially college basketball.