Name: James Head
Pronouns: He/Him
Title: Senior Fellow

James Head was the President & Chief Executive Officer of the East Bay Community Foundation until October 2021. Previously, he served for 10 years as Vice President of Programs for the San Francisco Foundation, where he spearheaded regional initiatives on race, equity, poverty, housing, economic development, and youth development. James has more than 45 years of experience in philanthropy and grant making; nonprofit management and technical assistance; community and economic development; and public interest and civil rights law. Prior to joining The San Francisco Foundation, he was President of the National Economic Development and Law Center for 18 years. James holds a Juris Doctorate law degree (J.D.) from the University of Georgia School of Law, and has bar memberships in Georgia, Florida, and California. James has lived in Oakland, CA with his wife, Bernida Reagan, for more than 30 years.

Under Head’s leadership, the East Bay Community Foundation has accelerated its impact. It has partnered with its donors to distribute over $450 million in grants to hundreds of organizations advancing a Just East Bay. The ASCEND:BLO initiative has helped to advance long-overlooked Black-led organizations and bolster their longevity, sustainability, and impact. The Foundation used its special position as an intermediary between government, philanthropy, community, and business to help ensure a thorough Census 2020 count in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. The Foundation responded to the COVID-19 pandemic with the urgency the moment demanded and provided relief to individuals in the East Bay community who depended on that assistance.