NCG member the Women's Foundation of California recently announced the hiring of Rozella "Rozie" Kennedy as its new Chief Development Officer. Welcome to the #NCGmember community Rozie!
Oakland, CA – September 20, 2017 – The Women’s Foundation of California is pleased to announce that seasoned development professional Rozella (Rozie) Kennedy has joined as its new Chief Development Officer.
“Rozie is a relational and visionary thinker whose donor-centric approach has advanced progressive values of social, racial, gender, economic and environmental justice throughout her career. We are thrilled to have her join our senior leadership team,” said Foundation CEO Surina Khan.
Rozie first joined the nonprofit sector in New Mexico, helping to establish three award-winning arts nonprofits. Relocating to the Bay Area in 2012, Rozie served as Executive Director of the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players, as Philanthropic Relations Officer for San Mateo-based science museum Curiodyssey and in senior development roles for Earth Island Institute and New Door Ventures.
“It is a joy and honor for me to join the Foundation as it prepares for its 40th Anniversary in 2019," Rozie stated. “California is at the vanguard in demonstrating how we advance an equity agenda for women, girls and transpeople – particularly people of color, the underpaid, underserved, under-resourced and those who are marginalized by systems of oppression.”
A New York City native, Rozie earned a BA in French and English from Tufts University and an MA in French Caribbean literature from Paris’s Sorbonne University. In addition to her passion for social justice, Rozie enjoys cheering on the Warriors, watching tennis, playing with her dogs and dancing with Rhythm and Motion at ODC in San Francisco’s Mission District. With her husband, the renowned new music composer/conductor John Kennedy, she has two young adult daughters and resides in Berkeley.
Working at the intersection of philanthropy and public policy, the Women’s Foundation of California invests, trains and connects community-based leaders and donors to fund and advocate for programs and policies that increase the economic security, health and safety of women, girls and transpeople in California.