We are grateful to our diverse team that helps make community-driven philanthropy possible in Southern Arizona.

Susi Acord
(she/her/hers)
sacord@cfsaz.org
520-209-2598

Susi joined CFSA in 2024 as a Thriving Communities Impact Manager. In her role, she supports communities across Arizona and Southern Nevada to implement the EPA’s Thriving Communities Environmental Justice Grantmaking program.

She brings more than 16 years of nonprofit experience at place-based organizations supporting thriving communities and healthy environments. Before moving to Tucson, she worked at Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park, a science and education partner of the National Park Service that works to study rapid environmental change, develop forward-thinking restoration projects, and test climate adaptation strategies in partnership with park resource managers. Prior to that, she worked at Rural Action, a sustainable community economic development organization based in Appalachian Ohio that serves 32 Ohio counties, as well as regional projects across Central Appalachia in communities long impacted by resource extraction and environmental degradation.

Susi grew up in Miami, Florida. She holds a degree in Geography from DePaul University in Chicago where first developed a deep passion for community-led development, environmental justice, and outdoor recreation. When she’s not at work, you might spot her exploring trails around the region, running, or biking along the Loop.

Jeanne Alegria
(she/her/hers)

Jeanne has been in the accounting field for over 18 years, and recently joined CFSA in May 2022. She is loving this opportunity to work with such an awesome team! Jeanne’s passion is knowing she’s made a positive impact on others, and she’s excited to take on new challenges with lots of diversity.

Jeanne enjoys spending time with her family, dancing, and doing outdoor activities (hiking, volleyball, and swimming).

John Amoroso
(he/him/his)
jamoroso@cfsaz.org

520-382-5877

John came to Southern Arizona in 2015 to become the Executive Director of The David and Lura Lovell Foundation that spent down in 2024. Over his eight years in Arizona philanthropy, he always looked to the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona as a dynamic collaborator and source of inspiration for his efforts. This partnering spirit resulted in co-funding efforts like the Arizona End of Life Care Partnership, the IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access) Grant Program for nonprofit capacity building, and Catchafire with CFSA; financing an Emmy award-winning Arizona Public Media documentary with Marshall Foundation; and support of First Nations locally and nationally with Jewish Philanthropies of Southern Arizona and Novo Foundation. John helped the Lovell Foundation achieve the Outstanding Foundation Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals-Southern Arizona in 2019 and was awarded the inaugural Impact Philanthropy BLOOM Award from CFSA in 2024. He is very excited to continue this spirit of collaboration as a representative of CFSA in Southern Arizona’s philanthropy and nonprofit community.

John played a key role in helping amplify the impact and expand the reach of Arizona philanthropy by helping to grow Southern Arizona Grantmakers, as a board member of the state-wide nonprofit and philanthropy support organization, Arizona Impact For Good, and through committee work conference presentations and webinars on various topics with national philanthropic organizations like Exponent Philanthropy and Foundant. He relishes the opportunity to help nonprofits connect to resources as much as he does supporting philanthropist to accomplish their goals.

Before coming to Arizona, John worked in nonprofits and philanthropies across the West including stints as a Regional Organizer for the National Wildlife Federation across six states, a Program Officer for The Ford Family Foundation in Roseburg, Oregon (a Top-100 Foundation); and a Regional Representative for the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board. He has been dedicated to nonprofits and philanthropy all his life and received a Master of Nonprofit Management from Regis University in 2014.

Missy Bowden
(she/her/hers)

Missy Bowden has been the Chief Financial Officer for the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona since 2013.  She previously spent 25 years in banking, the last 17 of which as Chief Financial Officer of the Bank of Tucson and Vice President of Bank Performance for Capital Bancorp Ltd. where she was a “virtual” CFO to multiple banks in the Western US. She developed an interest in working in the nonprofit sector by serving on the board of La Paloma Family Services for 11 years.  She also served on the board of the Arizona Center for the Study of Children and Families.

Molli Bryson
(she/her/hers)
mbryson@cfsaz.org
520-209-2874

Molli Bryson brings over a decade of project coordination and management experience to CFSA. Prior to joining the nonprofit sector, Molli worked in academia managing environmental and public policy research programs at the University of Arizona. She is excited to bring her background in program design, event coordination, and meeting facilitation to the CFSA team. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English with a minor in Art History from the University of Arizona. Molli loves taking road trips with her family—especially with her three dogs—and making art in her free time.

Monique Conway
she/her/hers
mconway@cfsaz.org

Born and raised in Tucson, Arizona, Monique has a passion for Southern Arizona nonprofits. She has over ten years of experience in marketing and communications, with more than six years dedicated to nonprofit marketing. Prior to joining CFSA, Monique was the Marketing Lead at the Humane Society of Southern Arizona and the Marketing and Events Manager at Ben’s Bells.

Monique has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Northern Arizona University. Outside of work, Monique enjoys traveling with her husband and son, kayaking with her rescue dog, and discussing ways to make a difference in her community with peers.

Kjersten Erickson
(she/her/hers)
kerickson@cfsaz.org
520-209-2870

A Tucson native, Kjersten attended the University of Arizona where she earned undergraduate degrees in Russian and Slavic Studies and Business Management. Prior to joining CFSA, Kjersten worked in the insurance industry where she focused on negotiation strategies, leadership competencies, and project management. Kjersten is incredibly excited to be part of the Community Foundation Campus Team and make as much of a positive impact as possible.

In her free time, Kjersten loves to hang out with her dog Charlie, travel to all corners of the globe, and explore the vast hiking trails and adventure spots right here in Tucson’s backyard. She also loves spending as much time as possible with friends and family and hiding from the Tucson heat at the movie theater or the nearest swimming pool.

Jenny Flynn
(she/her/hers)

Jenny is a long-time Tucsonan, settling here as her adopted home in 1999 after spending time in six states and four countries. She joined the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona (CFSA) as President and CEO in 2021. At CFSA, she is especially proud of the innovative ways we partner with donors and nonprofits to serve the ever-changing needs of our community. Recent examples include the Nonprofit Solar Project, the Solutions-Focused Community Book Club, and the Local News Initiative of Southern Arizona.

Before joining CFSA, Jenny Flynn served Southern Arizona through various leadership positions at the University of Arizona Foundation for twenty years.  Working with a broad array of national and local partner foundations, she raised more than $100 million for the University. She also collaborated on significant initiatives, including building a talent management program and creating and executing a strategic plan to double fundraising.

Prior to her career as a philanthropy professional, Jenny spent time as a National Park Ranger in Denali National Park and Glacier National Park, taught English as a second language in Spain and Italy, and served as teaching faculty and lecturer at the University of Montana, Sinte Gleska University, and Arizona State University. She currently serves on the board of the MAP Dashboard, Sun Corridor, and the University of Arizona School of Government and Public Policy.

Natalia Gabrielsen
(she/her/hers)
ngabrielsen@cfsaz.org
520-289-8003

Natalia Gabrielsen is the Senior Community Impact Manager overseeing grantmaking and initiatives in the areas of education, environment, and public policy for the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona. She previously served as Program Manager supporting the CFSA’s scholarship program, the African American Legacy Fund, and several competitive grants programs. She brings nearly fifteen years of experience in nonprofit and philanthropic spaces to her role and has spent time with CFSA’s Finance department, the Arts Foundation for Tucson and Southern Arizona, and the Arizona State Museum. Natalia is passionate about implementing programs that increase sustainability for Southern Arizona’s nonprofits and have a positive impact in the region she loves.

Natalia enjoys exploring Tucson’s food scene, museum-hopping, getting outside, and spending time with her partner and their cat, Baltazar.

Job Portfolio:

  • Education and Scholarship Program Oversight
  • Nonprofit Solar Project
  • EPA Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program – Region 9
  • The Policy Project
Monica Galaz
(she/her/hers)
mgalaz@cfsaz.org
520-209-2862

A native Tucsonan, Monica has over 19 years of experience working in various administrative roles in the nonprofit sector and is passionate about providing services to the community.

When she is not working, Monica likes to spend time with her husband and four kids. She also has an amazing extended family with whom she spends a lot of time. Between birthdays and holidays, Monica is always out celebrating with those close to her!

Desiree Hammond
(she/her/hers)
dhammond@cfsaz.org
520-209-1673

Desiree Hammond, a third generation Arizonan, brings with her over a decade of experience in nonprofit management, women’s advocacy, and healing justice. Prior to joining CFSA, Desiree worked with Greater Tucson Leadership, The Dunbar Pavilion, and Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona, serving in both program and operational roles to expand programming and increase community impact. She also served as a Board Member and Commissioner for the Tucson Shambhala Meditation Center and Pima County/Tucson Women’s Commission. Recently, Desiree graduated from State of Black Arizona’s African American Leadership Institute and Greater Tucson Leadership’s Lead Tucson Program.

Beyond her nonprofit work, Desiree is a certified Yoga Instructor, Somatic Practitioner and Full-Spectrum Doula. She actively supports her community as a workshop facilitator, convener, grant review panelist and space-holder, previously collaborating with human rights activist and professor, Loretta J. Ross on her “Calling In” framework. In 2023, Desiree was featured in the University of Arizona’s Afro-Chicanx Digital Humanities Storytelling Project and also produced and co-directed a storytelling docuseries titled, “Unerased: Stories of Black Tucsonans” in partnership with The Dunbar Pavilion and Arizona Commission on the Arts.

Desiree is a pleasure activist, holistic health enthusiast, and world traveler who is dedicated to creating inclusive spaces that prioritize equity and strives to create a world in which everyone has access to what they need to thrive.

Cat Kiesel
(she/her/hers)

Cat Kiesel has been in the accounting field for over 25 years, 18 of which have been right here at CFSA. A natural problem solver, Cat finds joy in her day-to-day work organizing and creating efficient processes for our team. Cat believes in a work-life balance and is passionate about health and wellness, fine art, fun crafts, and raising her amazing daughter.

Learn more about Cat!

 

Jonathan Kleefeld
(he/him/his)

Jonathan joined the CFSA team in August 2022 and is excited to be a part of the Foundation’s committed efforts to support the Southern Arizona community.

Jonathan loves travel, the outdoors, books, music, movies, and delicious food, and could never possibly say enough about how much he adores his wife, kid, and cat.

Evan Kory
(he/him/his)

Evan Kory is an active community organizer in Santa Cruz County working with many nonprofit organizations focused on the arts, culture, and economic development. Together with local artists he founded La Linea Art Studio in downtown Nogales and recently led the effort of opening the new Wittner Museum. This project restored the historic Las Dos Naciones Cigar Factory building in order to create a space that serves as a new art museum, performance venue and community center. Evan is a board member of La Linea Art Studio, Nogales Community Development, Pimeria Alta Historical Society, Santa Cruz Advocates for the Arts and the Santa Cruz Foundation for the Performing Arts. He also formerly served as the Arts Director for the Santa Cruz County School Superintendent’s Office. In addition to Evan’s work with non-profit organizations and local government, the Kory family has owned and operated retail stores, La Cinderella and Kory’s Bridal, in Nogales for 77 years.

Evan is a classical pianist and harpsichordist and has performed throughout the United States and in many countries around the world. He holds a master’s of music in historical performance from The Juilliard School and a doctorate of musical arts in piano performance from Manhattan School of Music.

As an Economic Recovery Corps Fellow, Evan will support local nonprofit organizations in Santa Cruz County through the implementation of a nonprofit accelerator program. The accelerator will help organizations bring collaborative (cross-organizational and cross-community) ideas to life and expand their organizational capacity and services through peer learning, mentoring, and coaching.

Laura Maher
(she/her/hers)
lmaher@cfsaz.org
520-209-2765

A nonprofit professional with deep roots in Tucson, Laura has more than a decade of experience in communications, program coordination, and fundraising. She is continually inspired by the people, places, and work of Southern Arizona.

Laura joined the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona in 2022 and currently serves as the Major Gifts Officer on the Philanthropy Team. She holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Arizona, an MA from the University of Texas at Austin, and an MFA from Warren Wilson College. The best part of her workday is getting to connect with people and learn about the causes they care about most.

Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her human and canine loved ones, exploring new places through travel, exploring new ideas through podcasts and books, and attempting to find and bake the perfect cookie.

Enedina Miller
(she/her/hers)
emiller@cfsaz.org
520-209-1525

Community and family are strongly linked in Enedina’s heart. Enedina’s work as a Community Impact Manager at CFSA gives her the honor of positively impacting the community in which she was born and raised. She has a big family and loves spending time with her husband, their two kids, and their two dogs. In the moments between work and parenthood, she finds herself reading a book, watching a sappy love movie, or dancing to Bruno Mars! #BLESSED

Portfolio

  • Supporting Organizations
  • Awards
  • Competitive Grants General
  • Agreements
  • Donor Advised Fund Grants

Erin Pixley
(she/her/hers)
epixley@cfsaz.org
520-382-9203

Erin Pixley brings over six years of administrative and finance experience to the CFSA team. Prior to joining CFSA, Erin lived in Nebraska and worked for Nebraska Appleseed, a social justice and advocacy nonprofit. She is excited to get more involved with and see how her work impacts her local community. Erin holds bachelor’s degrees in Business Administration and French from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

In her free time, Erin enjoys spending time with her husband and son, reading, eating delicious food, and playing board games. She also loves traveling back to Wisconsin and Iowa to visit family and showing them all the best of Tucson when they come to visit.

Jeaiza Quiñones
(she/her/hers)
jqivory@cfsaz.org
520-447-8927

Jeaiza Quiñones began her journey into nonprofit work as a volunteer and student worker in her native St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. Eight years later, her work with CFSA has allowed her to nurture a passion for grantmaking, program planning, IDEA work and nonprofit capacity building. Her personal goal is working toward ensuring access to communities who are underrepresented in philanthropic work and pursuing more opportunities for unrestricted grantmaking which has been a transformative aspect of her work in Southern Arizona.

Jeaiza earned her BA in English at Prairie View A&M University and an MS in Communications with an emphasis in Public Relations at Syracuse University. Her favorite things to do in Arizona are road trips, hiking, and driving up Mount Lemmon whenever she has the opportunity.

Learn more about Jeaiza!

Anne Reid
(she/her/hers)
areid@cfsaz.org
520-382-9204

Anne is originally from Tulsa, OK where she graduated from Oklahoma State University. She then moved to San Francisco, CA to spend the next 28 years there! Anne enjoyed gaining diverse work experience through her 21 years in contract interior design for medical facilities, 4.5 years as a Business Receptionist at the newly reopened California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park, and as Temp Staffing for University of California San Francisco (UCSF). Anne was also on the Board of Directors for the nonprofit Pacific Musical Society in San Francisco for 23 years.

Anne moved to Tucson in 2015 with her family members. Familiar with Tucson from years of vacationing here in the summertime, Anne enjoys the art, culture, food, scenery, animals, birds, and architecture of Southern Arizona. She spends her personal time taking care of her mother and her aunt, maintaining an online Etsy shop, doing beadwork, crochet, needlepoint, jigsaw puzzles, reading, and playing Warcraft.

Learn more about Anne!

Georgia Schwartz
(she/her/hers)
gschwartz@cfsaz.org
520-209-2868

Georgia Schwartz has worked in the nonprofit world for over a decade and brings more than thirty-five years of experience in accounting, program, and facilities management to her work at CFSA.

She has a master’s degree in fine arts and is currently the Special Projects Manager in CFSA’s Operations Department.

Rose Snyder
(she/her/hers)
rsnyder@cfsaz.org
520-209-2866

Rose Snyder is a leading governance consultant for national and regional organizations across the country. Her unique experience in the Olympic sports world at USA Swimming, U.S. Figure Skating and the U.S. Olympic Committee allows her to “coach” and prepare boards, staff, and c-suite executives for high performance and achievement.

Rose’s expertise in team building and passion for excellence helps organizations advance their mission and improve effectiveness. Her cornerstone programs include team building, communication, strategic planning and performance and leadership coaching.

While Rose has enjoyed nearly 15 years as a successful nonprofit consultant, she has recently taken her success to the business coaching arena. She received her credentials through The Institute for Integrative Coach Training and recently earned her ACC, (Associate Certified Coach) through the International Coaching Federation.

Prior to her work in administration, Rose was a successful swim coach whose swimmers went on to compete at the Olympic trials. Rose has a Master of Organizational Management and a Bachelor of Science degree in Education. In addition, Rose has trained extensively with Board Source, formerly the National Center for Nonprofit Boards. She is also a recognized trainer through Consultants Psychologists Press Inc (MBTI). and one of only a handful in the world, trained to conduct Psycho-geometrics® (Shapes) communication seminars.

Rose is married to Charlie Snyder who heads up marketing and communication for the College of Fine Arts at the University of Arizona. She is excited to be back in Tucson as she is a proud Alumna of the U of A. Rose and Charlie have three grown children: Carli Rose, Gina Maria, and Sam Andrew.

Shari Stapleton-Smith
(she/her/hers)
ssmith@cfsaz.org
520-209-2862

Shari has been part of the CFSA team for 10 years and loves working with such a caring team who works hard to make an impact every day.  When she’s not helping to keep the office running smoothly, she’s hanging out with her husband, visiting kids and grandkids and volunteering with ESA (Epsilon Sigma Alpha) raising money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Easter Seals, YWCA programs and other community organizations.

Paula Van Ness
(she/her/hers)
pvanness@cfsaz.org
520-382-5883

Paula Van Ness, MS is a seasoned nonprofit executive with more than 40 years in CEO/Executive Director positions locally and nationally. Previously, she served in the top executive position for Family Planning Centers of Greater LA, AIDS Project Los Angeles, National AIDS Fund, National Alliance to End Homelessness, Starlight Children’s Foundation, Make-A-Wish America, and Connecticut Community Foundation.

She has a master’s degree in organizational development and has completed the BoardSource Certification as a Nonprofit Board Consultant and is also a certified Working Genius Facilitator. She currently directs the Center for Healthy Nonprofits at the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona.

 

Emily Walsh
(she/her/hers)
ewalsh@cfsaz.org
520-209-2867

As a nonprofit, foundation, and higher education advancement professional, Emily has more than 15 years of experience in operations and administration, including technology and business transformation, prospective donor and pipeline development, data analysis, business intelligence, records management, talent development, and strategic planning.

Most recently, Emily served as a Director with BrightVine, a full-service technology firm providing software development, consulting, and advisory services to the nonprofit industry. She brings extensive experience as a people and project leader from her work as Vice President of Strategic Information Services at The University of Arizona Foundation, and as the Senior Director responsible for overseeing Prospect Research, Prospect Management, and Analytics at the University of Chicago.

Emily has also served the Southern Arizona community as a volunteer leader at The Drawing Studio and Tucson Festival of Books, and she recently co-founded Tucson Tome Gnome, a local literary collective that provides free books to inspire literacy, reading, happiness, and kindness throughout Tucson, Arizona.

In her role as Chief Operating Officer, Emily translates the organization’s vision and strategy into integrated operational tactics, strengthening the internal infrastructure needed to support the Foundation’s diverse goals and stakeholders.

Learn more about Emily!

Sydney Wells
(she/her/hers)
swells@cfsaz.org
520-447-8890

Sydney Wells has over five years of experience in the nonprofit sector, primarily working with organizations committed to enrichment through child education and disability program development. While earning her undergraduate degree in Anthropology and Sociology from the University of Redlands in California, Sydney had the opportunity to study abroad and work with nonprofit organizations internationally. Sydney has since returned to her hometown of Tucson to connect with those that also love Southern Arizona and share a passion for growing its community’s support.

In her free time, Sydney enjoys crafting and DIY projects to add to her home, hiking through Sabino Canyon, and rewatching old movies while snacking on a homemade chocolate treat.

Michael Wiley
(he/him/his)

Mike Wiley has been part of the Finance team at CFSA for three years; he is incredibly grateful to help facilitate donor philanthropy by supporting their grantmaking and fundraising efforts. When he isn’t working, Mike enjoys the great outdoors and spending time on the water or in the woods. Mike recently took a trip to New Orleans and discovered alligators love marshmallows and learned more Nicholas Cage trivia than he ever expected on a cemetery tour.

Josh Zollinger
(he/him/his)
jzollinger@cfsaz.org
520-209-2554

Josh has lived in Utah, Washington, and Nevada, but has called Tucson home for over two decades. He and his wife met while they were both working for Bookmans. They’ve been together for 20 years and have two sons and two cats. In his free time, Josh enjoys mountain biking, baking, and seeing live music.

Josh has worked for a variety of local businesses in Southern Arizona, from landscaping and carpentry to marketing and operations, and is thrilled to put his time and energy into supporting an organization that does so much for this community