In October of 2003, Samantha opened the Foundation’s San Francisco office and began as Program Officer of the Pacific Region, tasked with developing a portfolio of work focused on improving marine and estuarine ecosystem health. In those early years, her work addressed domestic needs to improve fisheries management in addition to advancing the implementation of the California Marine Life Protection Act.

In January of 2009, Samantha assumed the role of President of the Foundation, which brought the Foundation’s Chesapeake grants program under her direction. She has navigated the Foundation’s portfolio to focus on improvements to water quality in the two regions, and to a partnership approach across all Foundation initiatives.

Samantha guides all operations at the Foundation; strategizing on new initiatives that improve grantmaking and administrative processes; bringing ever-evolving topics to the Foundation that challenge our thinking on ways we can contribute; rejecting a business-as-usual approach to philanthropy, and thoughtfully getting involved with partners of all kinds.

Samantha attended Syracuse University and earned a BFA in Advertising Design. She lives in San Francisco with her two children.