A Leadership Update from East Bay Community Foundation
At East Bay Community Foundation, we are incredibly proud of the partnerships we have built over the last century in pursuit of a more just East Bay, where everyone has the freedom to dream, heal, and belong. Together, our work has touched millions of people across the region — work our dedicated and incredible team continues today.
We want to share that after nearly four years leading the Foundation, Brandi Howard has announced that she is stepping down from her role as EBCF’s President and CEO to pursue her next chapter.
While at EBCF, Brandi engaged with the East Bay community in deep and meaningful ways. She worked to increase the reach and impact of the Foundation, including through public-private partnerships with the City of Oakland, Contra Costa County, and the State of California. She also worked with peer funders to respond to attacks by the federal government, deploying an additional $325,000 to support immigrant communities. When Oakland’s Summer Food Program lost funding due to budget cuts, Brandi led an effort to close the gap. And in support of ASCEND: BLO and other programs, she helped raise and deploy additional funding for wellness within our communities.
During Brandi’s time with the Foundation, EBCF’s team of advocates deepened relationships across Alameda and Contra Costa Counties and expanded grantmaking for small businesses, immigrant communities, and local artists and culture bearers. None of this would be possible without the trust and generosity of our donors, whose philanthropy continues to power this work every day.
“Leading this organization has been a great honor. I am the third generation of my family to call Oakland home, and this work has never been abstract to me — it has been personal, rooted in a deep and enduring commitment to this community and to the people it serves. This community, and this work, will always be part of who I am.”
— Brandi Howard
The Foundation’s strength has always been rooted in the commitment of our talented team and dedicated Board, whose steadiness and expertise drive this work forward with the rigor and care our partners have always known, and our community deserves. We are proud to share that Board Chair Xavier Morales, a nationally recognized equity and racial justice leader, will be serving as Interim President and CEO while our search for a permanent President and CEO begins.
A seasoned leader who is intimately familiar with the Foundation’s operations, finances, and relationships, Xavier brings more than a decade of experience as an executive director and several years on the Board. He is working in collaboration and close partnership with the Executive Leadership Team so that the Foundation’s grantmaking, donor partnerships, and day-to-day work continue without interruption.
“I have been incredibly proud to work alongside the East Bay Community Foundation team over the last four years as a member of its Board of Directors. We know that real change requires sustained commitment, and we remain steadfast in our dedication to freedom and racial justice. Our work is grounded in a deep love for the East Bay and the knowledge that, when we act together, we can significantly improve our neighbors’ lives.”
— Xavier Morales
In the coming weeks, the Foundation will share more about the upcoming search for EBCF’s next President and CEO. This new leader will work alongside our staff to carry the Foundation’s mission forward.
We are grateful to the partners, allies, donors, and community members who inspire us every day, and to the dedicated team members who bring our values to life. With you at our side, we will continue to care for, and fight for a more just and equitable East Bay.
