Zannon Foundation Sunsetting
Active: 2013-2015
Roles: Operations, Project Management, Creative Direction, Strategy
Background: In 2012, the Zannon Family Foundation determined that instead of continuing on their foundation’s work in perpetuity, they would spend the foundation down into a legacy impact investment. The Zannon family understood that across the United States, rural communities were being left behind and hollowed out and recognized that philanthropy together with social businesses must play an increasingly important role in building resilient rural communities.
Opportunity: Most foundations traditionally do not fund capital improvements and there was a large need for nonprofits, social businesses, and academic institutions to share space, align, and collaborate towards finding local solutions to the most vexing and interconnected issues - such as climate change, chronic poverty, and economic stagnation.
Challenge: New Cuyama is 50 miles from the nearest urban areas and has a population of 550 as of the last census. The extremely remote conditions and deep economic stagnation presented significant geographic, socioeconomic, and business challenges to establishing a viable organization and proof of concept
Process: I worked to lead the creative ideation and strategy of how to reimagine and restore 25 acres of mixed-use industrial commercial space along with adjoining acreage. The property was abandoned for 10 years and was severely blighted and underutilized as a community asset.
Primary research of existing models of rural economic development. Phone interviews, site visits, and insights collected in a spreadsheet
Convening of collaborative design workshops, in-person forums, and intimate stakeholder interviews to surface insights and ideas on strategy.
Half-day field trips to the site with influential stakeholders and advisors. Series of photos, interviews and further ideation.
Design sessions with consultants on the practical constraints and opportunities of the property
Outcomes
Grew the organization from concept to reality, working with a $3M capital improvement budget and $1M in organizational seed funding
Recruited principal Board of Directors and instituted “dynamic governance” an equitable, efficient, and innovative method of organizational management and decision-making
Recruited key, talented staff, secured an AmeriCorps 3 year grant, and developed the organization to an overall budget of $400,000
Formed 2 social enterprises - rural tourism and rural business collective
Blue Sky Center
Active: 2015-2018
Role: Co-founder & CEO
Background: Blue Sky Center is a rural, place-based nonprofit organization with the mission to strengthen our rural communities within the Cuyama Valley by supporting entrepreneurs and building our regional creative and economic resources.
In 2012, the Zannon Family Foundation determined that instead of continuing on their foundation’s work in perpetuity, they would spend the foundation down into a legacy impact investment. They understood private foundations traditionally do not fund capital improvements but saw a large need for nonprofits, social businesses, and academic institutions to share space, align, and collaborate towards finding local solutions to the most vexing and interconnected issues - such as climate change, chronic poverty, and economic stagnation. The Zannons also understood that across the United States, rural communities were being left behind and hollowed out and recognized that philanthropy together with social businesses must play an increasingly important role in building resilient rural communities. I worked to develop organization, physical space, and cultivate an organizational culture focused on equity, innovation, sustainability. Today, Blue Sky Center has narrowed its focus and strategy and is continually adapting and evolving to meet the needs of the local communities of the Cuyama Valley serving as a model for other communities in the process.
Key Accomplishments
Grew the organization from concept to reality, working with a $3M capital improvement budget and $1M in organizational seed funding
Recruited principal Board of Directors and instituted “dynamic governance” an equitable, efficient, and innovative method of organizational management and decision-making
Recruited key, talented staff, secured an AmeriCorps 3 year grant, and developed the organization to an overall budget of $400,000
Formed 2 social enterprises - rural tourism and rural business collective
Blue Sky Center
Active: 2015-2018
Role: Co-founder & CEO
Background: Blue Sky Center is a rural, place-based nonprofit organization with the mission to strengthen our rural communities within the Cuyama Valley by supporting entrepreneurs and building our regional creative and economic resources.
In 2012, the Zannon Family Foundation determined that instead of continuing on their foundation’s work in perpetuity, they would spend the foundation down into a legacy impact investment. They understood private foundations traditionally do not fund capital improvements but saw a large need for nonprofits, social businesses, and academic institutions to share space, align, and collaborate towards finding local solutions to the most vexing and interconnected issues - such as climate change, chronic poverty, and economic stagnation. The Zannons also understood that across the United States, rural communities were being left behind and hollowed out and recognized that philanthropy together with social businesses must play an increasingly important role in building resilient rural communities. I worked to develop organization, physical space, and cultivate an organizational culture focused on equity, innovation, sustainability. Today, Blue Sky Center has narrowed its focus and strategy and is continually adapting and evolving to meet the needs of the local communities of the Cuyama Valley serving as a model for other communities in the process.
Key Accomplishments
Grew the organization from concept to reality, working with a $3M capital improvement budget and $1M in organizational seed funding
Recruited principal Board of Directors and instituted “dynamic governance” an equitable, efficient, and innovative method of organizational management and decision-making
Recruited key, talented staff, secured an AmeriCorps 3 year grant, and developed the organization to an overall budget of $400,000
Formed 2 social enterprises - rural tourism and rural business collective
Rural Summit
Active: 2015-2018
Role: Co-founder & CEO
Background: Blue Sky Center is a rural, place-based nonprofit organization with the mission to strengthen our rural communities within the Cuyama Valley by supporting entrepreneurs and building our regional creative and economic resources.
In 2012, the Zannon Family Foundation determined that instead of continuing on their foundation’s work in perpetuity, they would spend the foundation down into a legacy impact investment. They understood private foundations traditionally do not fund capital improvements but saw a large need for nonprofits, social businesses, and academic institutions to share space, align, and collaborate towards finding local solutions to the most vexing and interconnected issues - such as climate change, chronic poverty, and economic stagnation. The Zannons also understood that across the United States, rural communities were being left behind and hollowed out and recognized that philanthropy together with social businesses must play an increasingly important role in building resilient rural communities. I worked to develop organization, physical space, and cultivate an organizational culture focused on equity, innovation, sustainability. Today, Blue Sky Center has narrowed its focus and strategy and is continually adapting and evolving to meet the needs of the local communities of the Cuyama Valley serving as a model for other communities in the process.
Key Accomplishments
Grew the organization from concept to reality, working with a $3M capital improvement budget and $1M in organizational seed funding
Recruited principal Board of Directors and instituted “dynamic governance” an equitable, efficient, and innovative method of organizational management and decision-making
Recruited key, talented staff, secured an AmeriCorps 3 year grant, and developed the organization to an overall budget of $400,000
Formed 2 social enterprises - rural tourism and rural business collective
UN SDGs in India
Active: 2015-2018
Role: Co-founder & CEO
Background: Blue Sky Center is a rural, place-based nonprofit organization with the mission to strengthen our rural communities within the Cuyama Valley by supporting entrepreneurs and building our regional creative and economic resources.
In 2012, the Zannon Family Foundation determined that instead of continuing on their foundation’s work in perpetuity, they would spend the foundation down into a legacy impact investment. They understood private foundations traditionally do not fund capital improvements but saw a large need for nonprofits, social businesses, and academic institutions to share space, align, and collaborate towards finding local solutions to the most vexing and interconnected issues - such as climate change, chronic poverty, and economic stagnation. The Zannons also understood that across the United States, rural communities were being left behind and hollowed out and recognized that philanthropy together with social businesses must play an increasingly important role in building resilient rural communities. I worked to develop organization, physical space, and cultivate an organizational culture focused on equity, innovation, sustainability. Today, Blue Sky Center has narrowed its focus and strategy and is continually adapting and evolving to meet the needs of the local communities of the Cuyama Valley serving as a model for other communities in the process.
Key Accomplishments
Grew the organization from concept to reality, working with a $3M capital improvement budget and $1M in organizational seed funding
Recruited principal Board of Directors and instituted “dynamic governance” an equitable, efficient, and innovative method of organizational management and decision-making
Recruited key, talented staff, secured an AmeriCorps 3 year grant, and developed the organization to an overall budget of $400,000
Formed 2 social enterprises - rural tourism and rural business collective