Professional Staff for Fiscal Year 2019-2020
Megan Barber Allende; President and CEO
Megan joined the Community Foundation in 2006. Prior to her current position, she held the positions of Program Officer, Director of Grants & Programs, Operations & Philanthropic Services Manager, and Director of Philanthropy. Megan received a B.A. from the University of Michigan in Comparative Art History and Literature and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She has an extensive background in program development and administration, working for the YWCA and owning her own consulting business in Michigan before returning to graduate school. She moved to Ukiah over 16 years ago and enjoys raising her three children in the community. Megan is a member of the Greater Ukiah Chamber Board of Directors, the Workforce Alliance of the North Bay-Mendocino Subcommittee, the HHSA Advisory Board, the Advisory Group for the National Conference for Growing Community Foundations, and Ukiah Unified School District Advisory Committee.
Duties: The CEO/President reports to the Board of Directors and is responsible for both the day-to-day leadership of the Community Foundation and working closely with the Board to ensure a long-term strategic vision for the organization. Priorities of the position include holding the organization to the highest standards of donor services, financial accountability, and community responsiveness. The CEO/President represents the Community Foundation as its key spokesperson and collaborates with other leaders and decision-makers in the community.
Megan may be reached at: megan@communityfound.org.
Carolyn Welch; CFAO
Carolyn joined the Community Foundation in July 2019. She was previously the Chief Financial Officer for North Coast Opportunities, Inc. for over 10 years. She holds a Bachelors Degree in Accounting from Golden Gate University in San Francisco. She has resided in Ukiah for over 20 years and enjoys biking and hiking in the great outdoors. She is most proud of her two grown children and the wonderful people they have become.
Duties: The CFAO is primarily responsible for the day-to-day financial and administrative operations of the Community Foundation, as well as for the planning and implementing strategies that will lead to the future growth and viability of the Foundation.
Carolyn may be reached at: carolyn@communityfound.org.
Michelle Rich; Director of Grants & Programs
Michelle joined the Foundation staff in November 2014. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics from Western Washington University and a Master’s Degree in English Literature from Portland State University. Michelle brings with her a background in non-profit development and grant writing. She relocated to Ukiah in 2013 where she has served as an AmeriCorps VISTA member, primarily working on the Healthy Mendocino website. She serves on the Behavioral Health Advisory Board and as Chair of the Healthy Mendocino Steering Committee.
Duties: Mentors the Program Associate, manages the Donor Advisor grant program, and supports the Board's Community Engagement initiatives.
Michelle may be reached at: michelle@communityfound.org
Neil DiBernardo; Administrative Manager
Neil joined the Foundation staff in April 2014. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in American Civilization from the State University of New York at Geneseo. Growing up on Long Island, Neil always knew he wanted to end up in California and made the move slowly, living for two decades in New York City and for one more decade in central New Jersey before taking the big leap in January 2014 to Mendocino County. His previous work experience includes positions in retail, banking, hospital billing, advertising, public relations, pharmaceutical research and regulatory administration, filmmaking, singing, writing, and acting (can’t dance – don’t ask me).
Duties: The Administrative Manager works closely with the board, staff, and controller to oversee the administrative operations of the Community Foundation.
Neil may be reached at: luca@communityfound.org
Rose Bell; Project Manager for Mendocino-ROC, and Communications Manager
Rose has been consulting with the Community Foundation since December 2017 focusing on project management for the long-term fire recovery efforts chaired by the Foundation. She officially joined the staff in October 2018. Rose brings over seventeen-years of executive administration experience gained from years at Gladstone Institutes in San Francisco, Mendocino College, Brown University, Project Sanctuary, and Real Goods among others. Raised in Ukiah, Rose earned her A.A. from Mendocino College in Social Sciences, her B.A. from Arizona State University in World History and attended graduate school in England to earn her M.A. in Public History from the Royal Holloway University of London. Rose has a strong events management background and has long been engaged in the local arts community. She has always believed in giving back by working through non-profit and educational organizations. She lives in Ukiah and when not focusing on the fire recovery she can be found traveling with her toddler son, or playing cars on the floor covered in stickers.
Duties: As the Project Manager for Mendocino – Rebuilding Our Community (M-ROC), the long-term recovery teams chaired by the Community Foundation of Mendocino County, Rose oversees all details of the recovery efforts from coordinating individual committees, managing fire recovery communications, aligning committee goals with survivor needs, and pursuing funding sources for recovery needs.
Rose may be reached at: rose@communityfound.org
Allison Findley; Program Officer
Allison Findley joined the Community Foundation in October of 2018. She was previously the Chamber Coordinator for the Willits Chamber of Commerce. Allison holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from the University of California Santa Cruz, and a Master’s Degree in Nonprofit Management, with a concentration in Project Management, from Northeastern University. As a born and raised Mendocino County native, she was raised in Willits, where she now lives with her husband and their dog Sophie.
Duties: The Program Officer implements, monitors, and updates two basic programs of the Foundation - Grants and Scholarships.
Allison can be reached at: allison@communityfound.org
Amy Lutz; Program Associate
Amy joined the Foundation staff in August 2019. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Wheaton College and has years of administrative experience in various fields. Born and raised in the East Bay, Amy found her way to Mendocino through the Mendocino Coast Writers' Conference. She now lives in Ukiah where she enjoys spending time outdoors with her horse and her dog.
Duties: The Program Assistant provides administrative and program assistance to the Grant, Scholarship, Technical Assistance, and other related programs of the Foundation.
Amy can be reached at: amy@communityfound.org
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