Effective January 16, 2017, at the conclusion of her term as Mayor of the City of Fresno, Ashley Swearengin will become the Chief Executive Officer of the Central Valley Community Foundation (CVCF,) formerly known as the Fresno Regional Foundation.
“The Central Valley Community Foundation is an incredibly important organization in our region. For almost 50 years, the Foundation has been dedicated to improving the lives of the people in this area,” said Mayor Swearengin. “I’m honored to assume its leadership in January when I finish my term of office. It’s a natural fit for me and will allow me to continue doing what I love most—working to improve the Central San Joaquin Valley by attracting resources and economic opportunity to the part of California that needs it the most.”
The Central Valley Community Foundation was founded in 1966 and now has $65 million in assets. In 2015, CVCF awarded $8 million in grants and scholarships to local nonprofits.
“We could not be more pleased,” said Dr. Alan Pierrot, Chair of the CVCF Board of Directors. “Mayor Swearengin has all the attributes necessary to double or triple the asset size of the Foundation which, in turn, will allow us to do so much more for the Central Valley. She is a natural, savvy, energetic leader, a skilled fundraiser and a results oriented manager who, during her two terms as Mayor, has experienced the challenges and the opportunities of this region.”
The decision to hire Swearengin has been well received by philanthropic leaders. “We at The James Irvine Foundation view CVCF as an important partner in the effort to expand economic and political opportunity for young adults and families in the Central Valley. We look forward to the unique leadership that Mayor Swearengin will bring as the next CEO,” said Don Howard, President and CEO of the Irvine Foundation.