Community Foundation names new leader

The Community Foundation of Sarasota County today announced Roxanne Jerde, a top executive of the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation, as its future president and CEO.

Jerde’s selection is the culmination of a community campaign and strategic planning initiative that began last year, following the retirement of longtime CEO Stewart W. Stearns. She is currently senior vice president for donor relations and education at the GKCCF, a $1.2 billion organization.

In addition to her work with the foundation, she has served in leadership positions on several nonprofit boards, including the Kansas City Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Junior League and the Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assult.

She will move to Sarasota with her husband, Mike, who recently retired as a litigation attorney, and join the Community Foundation of Sarasota County March 1.

“I am very honored to be selected as the CEO for the Community Foundation of Sarasota County,” Jerde said. “The legacy of success achieved under Stewart Stearns’ leadership, the Community Listening Campaign that reached almost 300 community members, and the professional search process the board conducted made this career change so compelling for me.

"I am blessed to have been part of the dynamic GKCCF and, while it is difficult to leave, coming to a community with a strong history of generous charitable giving and a spirit of partnership is very exciting," she said. "I can hardly wait to meet the CFSC donors and members of the community who care so deeply to make Sarasota an even better place to live.”

Contact Loren Mayo at [email protected].