Staff

Staff Directory
Employment

The Community Foundation staff is composed of individuals who combine professional expertise with a love of living and working in the Rochester area. Use the links just below to jump to a specific team section.

Office of the President
Community Programs
Finance, HR and Administration
Marketing and Communications
Philanthropic Engagement
Community Foundation Initiatives

Office of the President

Simeon Banister
President & CEO
Email Simeon or call 585.271.4277 to initiate contact with the Community Foundation.
Read more about Simeon
Iris Bieri
Chief of Staff
Email Iris or call 585.341.4375 with inquiries for the Office of the President, Board of Directors, and special projects.
Cameron Caputi
Director of Community and Foundation Analytics
Email Cameron or call 585.341.4407 for data and analysis for the Community Foundation and the region.
Coralis Laboy
Executive Assistant
Email Coralis or call 585.341.4333 to schedule an appointment with Simeon Banister or for information about the Foundation.
Teresa Stewart
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Human Resources Associate
Email Teresa or call 585.341.4340 about the Community Foundation’s initiatives to attract, hire, and maintain a diverse workplace.

Community Programs

Erin Budd Barry
Vice President, Community Programs
Email Erin or call 585.341.4390 with questions about the Foundation’s community leadership activities and grant opportunities.
Morgan Bajish
Operations Associate
Email Morgan or call 585.341.4374 with questions about your grant application or our grantmaking process.
Sara Bukowiec
Senior Program Officer
Email Sara or call 585.341.4371 with questions related to grant opportunities through geographic affiliates and advisory committees.
Annette Jiménez Gleason
Senior Program Officer, Vitality
Email Annette or call 585.341.4372 with questions about grant opportunities in arts and culture, environmental justice and sustainability, historical preservation, and successful aging.
Sarah Johnston
Scholarship Program Officer
Email Sarah or call 585.341.4357 with questions about scholarships.
Berta Rivera
Director of Community Programs
Email Berta or call 585.341.4365 with questions about competitive grantmaking for community impact.
Nikia Washington
Program Officer, Equity
Email Nikia or call 585.341.4376 with questions about grant opportunities in education, race and ethnicity, and poverty.

Finance, HR and Administration

Amy Vars
Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
Email Amy or call 585.341.4380 with questions regarding fund balances or investments.
Susan Clements
Finance Manager
Email Susan or call 585.341.4354 with audit confirmation requests.
Kelly Fose
Senior Finance Manager
Email Kelly or call 585.341.4391 with questions about accounting.
Jeffrey Hand
Senior Systems Administration Officer
Email Jeffrey or call 585.341.4341 if you encounter problems with the Foundation’s email or phone system.
Karen Koons
Senior Director, Finance
Email Karen or call 585.341.4342 with questions about the audited financial statements or 990s.
Patricia Peters
Gift Associate
Email Patricia or call 585.341.4370 with questions about gifts to the Foundation or if you have a problem with an online donation.
Nicole Scarborough
Senior Finance Manager
Email Nicole or call 585.341.4374 with questions about investments.
Keisha Sheppard
Finance Associate
Email Keisha or call 585.341.4356 with questions about accounts payable.
Ronisha Williams
Office and Building Administrator
Email Ronisha or call 585.341.4347 with questions about our property at 500 East Avenue.

Marketing and Communications

Denishea Ortiz
Vice President, Marketing and Communications
Email Denishea or call 585.341.4351 with questions about all media inquiries and marketing and communication strategies.
Donna Ritchie
Communications Officer, Events
Email Donna or call 585.341.4364 with questions about Community Foundation events.
Sarah Studwell
Communications Officer
Email Sarah or call 585.341.4368 with questions or suggestions for stories, interviews, and publications.
Sarah Viggiani
Director of Marketing
Email Sarah or call 585.341.4334 for questions or suggestions about channels such as digital, website, and advertising.
Rachel R. Wyche
Communications Associate and Graphic Designer
Email Rachel or call 585.341.4346 to request a logo or with questions about our invitations or sponsorship ads.

Philanthropic Engagement

Andrew Muldoon
Vice President, Philanthropic Engagement
Email Andrew or call 585.341.4360 if you want to discuss your legacy or are interested in establishing a fund to meet your philanthropic goals.
Kara Dwyer
Philanthropic Planning Officer
Email Kara or call 585.341.4408 if you have any questions regarding investing in Wayne County.
Mary Hartstein
Director of Donor Engagement and Impact
Email Mary or call 585.341.4352 to learn about current funding opportunities in the community that align with the Foundation’s grant priorities. For more information on Organization Endowment Funds, visit this page.
Kayleigh Meagher
Philanthropic Services Associate
Email Kayleigh or call 585.341.4331 with questions about our Community Sponsors annual campaign, making a grant from your Charitable Checking Account^SM, help with Donor Portal, or updating your contact information.
Dawn Perry
Collective Giving Officer
Email Dawn or call 585.341.4330 to learn how you can combine your gifts with others for greater impact, including through the Foundation’s Giving Circles.
Jeff Polino
Director, Philanthropic Planning
Email Jeff or call 585.341.4373 about donor engagement in the counties surrounding Monroe that include Genesee, Livingston, Ontario, Orleans, Seneca, and Yates.
Kayleigh Rae Stampfler
Director of Legacy Giving
Email Kayleigh Rae or call 585.341.4409 to explore opportunities to contribute to your community and support causes through planned giving.
Zakiya Tripp
Philanthropic Planning Administrator
Email Zakiya or call 585.341.4363 with questions about our events and resources for professional advisors.
*Zakiya is away from the office, with a return in February. During this time please reach out to Kayleigh Meagher at KMeagher@racf.org.

Community Foundation Initiatives

ACT Rochester
Megan Norris, PhD
Executive Director
Email Megan or call 585.341.4361 with questions about data compiled on key indicators of our region’s well-being.
Greater Rochester Afterschool & Summer Alliance (GRASA)
Raegena Lawrence
Executive Director
Email Raegena or call 585.505.6178 for questions or ideas with strategic planning and partnership in the Out-of-School Time (OST) system.
Rochester Procurement Equity Project
Patricia Marcaida
Director
Email Patricia or call 585.341.4402 with questions about equity in business purchasing.
Rochester ENergy Efficiency and Weatherization (RENEW)
Elizabeth McDade
Program Director
Email Elizabeth or call 585.341.4362 with questions about opportunities to help income-eligible homeowners increase energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and eliminate safety hazards in their homes.
Rochester’s Child
Tyana Velazquez-Smith, PhD
Director, Early Childhood
Email Tyana or call 585.341.4413 with questions about strategic impact for early childhood and education within the region.
Madison Esposito
Program Administrator
Email Madison or call 585.341.4348 with questions regarding ACT Rochester and RENEW.

At various times, Rochester Area Community Foundation offers career opportunities in the areas of administration, communications, fundraising, finance, grantmaking, and philanthropic engagement. The Community Foundation also is engaged in a variety of partnerships that occasionally create new positions.

There are no current positions at this time.

Rochester Area Community Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values a diverse workforce. In addition, we are proud to join the fair wage movement as a Level Up Champion.