For Immediate Release
Contact: Ling Woo Liu, lliu[at]sff.org, (415) 733-8565
SAN FRANCISCO, May 9, 2017 – The San Francisco Foundation announced today that it has hired Sonja Velez as its new Chief Financial Officer. Ms. Velez will be responsible for managing all aspects of financial planning and analysis for the foundation.
“We are excited to have Sonja join our team,” said Fred Blackwell, CEO of The San Francisco Foundation. “Sonja brings with her a unique background in both the corporate and nonprofit sectors, and a demonstrated passion for our commitment to equity and community.”
Ms. Velez most recently served as an independent management consultant. In this role, she built financial forecasting and valuation models, and led strategic planning processes. She has also worked as the Chief Financial Officer at The Democratic Voice of Burma, where she oversaw donor and regulatory reporting, accounting, budgeting, human resources, and administrative functions. Prior to working and living in Burma, Ms. Velez spent 13 years at Charles Schwab, where she rose to the position of Vice President of Corporate Planning and Analysis.
“I’m honored to serve as CFO of The San Francisco Foundation,” said Ms. Velez. “I look forward to joining a talented team committed to fostering racial and economic inclusion and building strong communities in the Bay.”
Ms. Velez holds an MBA from UC Berkeley, an MFA in writing from the University of San Francisco, and a BA in International Relations from UC Davis.
She will begin her new position on May 15.
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About The San Francisco Foundation
With more than $1.3 billion in assets, The San Francisco Foundation is one of the largest community foundations in the country. The foundation is committed to expanding opportunity and ensuring a more equitable future for all in the Bay Area, and working with its donors, it distributed nearly $100 million to nonprofit organizations last year. The San Francisco Foundation serves Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, and San Mateo Counties.
