The Community Foundation for Southwest Washington recently hired Shona Carter as the organization’s first dedicated Program Officer. In this role, Carter will serve as the primary liaison between the foundation and its grantees. This will involve developing, managing and evaluating a comprehensive portfolio of local grants and initiatives to enhance the granting expertise of the Foundation, its 18-member board and the donor advisors of its more than 290 charitable funds.
“Shona’s direct experience and expertise will bolster our efforts to measure the impact of grants and engage more directly with community partners on local issues,” said Community Foundation President, Jennifer Rhoads. “She comes highly-regarded and we’re delighted to welcome her back to the Northwest.”
Carter grew up in Portland, Ore., but came to the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington from The San Francisco Foundation, a similar place-based grantmaking organization. Here, she spent three years as a Donor Relations Officer managing a portfolio of 80 corporate and individual charitable funds that distributed more than $20 million annually to nonprofit organizations. Shona also spent four years as an Associate Program Officer at the East Bay Community Foundation where she evaluated more than 100 grant applications every quarter and monitored nearly $1 million in grants annually. With more than a decade of experience in the sector, Carter also brings a depth of experience in community engagement, corporate social responsibility and special projects related to donor support and grantee evaluation.
Shona received an MBA in Corporate Social Responsibility from Mills College in Oakland, Calif. and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Berkeley. In addition to her professional pursuits, Shona was actively involved as a volunteer in the Bay Area as a board member, fundraiser and grant evaluator.
“It’s great to reacquaint myself with the community, and I’m excited to learn about the current issues and opportunities,” Carter said. “My goal is to use this knowledge to increase the Foundation’s capacity and better collaborate with the nonprofits that make this region so vibrant.”
Established in 1984, the Community Foundation helps southwest Washingtonians build a more vibrant community by inspiring investments in local philanthropy. The Foundation holds more than 290 distinct funds, which are actively invested to generate growth and income for granting purposes. Governed by an esteemed volunteer Board, the Community Foundation offers benefits and services to donors, nonprofits and the community at large. Learn more at the Community Foundation website.
