As San Diego Foundation approaches the close of its fiscal year and marks a milestone 50th anniversary, we take a moment of heartfelt reflection to honor four extraordinary board members who have guided us with vision, integrity and generosity of spirit.
This June, Steve Klosterman, Cindy Bertrand, Clifford Schireson and Kay Coleman will conclude their board service — each leaving behind a meaningful legacy that has shaped the future of our region.
Their contributions span a combined 35 years of dedicated service. As leaders, they’ve championed transparency, stewarded philanthropic investments and helped chart bold strategies to advance opportunity for all San Diegans. Each brought their own values, expertise, and passion to this work and together, they exemplified the spirit of collective leadership that defines San Diego Foundation.
Steve Klosterman, AIF®: Guiding Strategic Growth with Steadfast Stewardship
Since joining the board in 2016, Steve has been a constant presence in shaping our investment strategies and governance practices. With his background as a financial advisor, Steve brought not only sharp acumen but also deep care for the long-term sustainability of community philanthropy.
Over the years, he served as Chair of the Investment Committee from 2018 to 2020 and as its Vice Chair during earlier and later terms, guiding the foundation’s investment philosophy through a period of growth and adaptation. As Board of Governors Secretary, Board Chair, and most recently Vice Chair, Steve consistently led with humility, a steady hand and a forward-thinking approach.
His service on the Executive Committee from 2018 through 2025 and Governance & Nominating Committee, including as Chair, demonstrated a deep commitment to thoughtful oversight and cultivating leadership within the board itself.
Steve’s legacy lies not just in sound financial strategy, but in the trust he built and the example he set for values-aligned leadership.
Cindy Bertrand: Accounting for Impact, Elevating Financial Integrity
For nearly a decade, Cindy Bertrand has been a cornerstone of financial and administrative excellence at SDF. First joining in 2016, Cindy brought her extensive expertise in accounting and audit compliance to the boardroom and has helped raise the bar ever since.
As Treasurer in multiple fiscal years, including this past year, Cindy has overseen financial planning, reporting and risk management with rigor and clarity. She chaired the Finance Committee, Charitable Real Estate Foundation (CREF) and the Audit & Risk Committee at pivotal moments, ensuring our systems and practices remained strong, transparent and accountable.
A member of nearly every key operational committee — from Governance to Finance & Administration to Compensation & Benefits — Cindy consistently showed up ready to ask the right questions and propose actionable solutions.
Her quiet leadership, marked by diligence and thoughtfulness, ensured that our mission could be sustained and expanded with confidence.
Clifford Schireson: Championing Accountability and Investment Wisdom
Since 2017, Cliff Schireson has brought both sharp investment insight and a steady ethical compass to his board service. With decades of experience in institutional investment, Cliff provided SDF with critical guidance as Chair and Vice Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee across multiple fiscal years.
His expertise was particularly impactful on the Investment Committee, where he served from 2020 through 2025, including in his current role as Vice Chair. Cliff’s voice has been instrumental in ensuring that our investment strategies align with both long-term growth and responsible stewardship.
Notably, he also stepped in as Interim CAO during a transitional moment in 2019 — one he embraced with grace and pragmatism.
Through service on the Executive, Finance & Administration, and Governance committees, Cliff consistently helped elevate our internal standards and strategic thinking. His calm, analytical approach and commitment to fiduciary duty strengthened the foundation’s foundation, literally and figuratively.
P. Kay Coleman: Bridging Strategy, Equity and Human-Centered Leadership
Few leaders embody the blend of strategy and heart quite like P. Kay Coleman. Since 2016, Kay has been a driving force behind efforts to integrate equity, inclusion and community collaboration into our organization’s DNA.
Her tenure as Board of Governors Chair and Vice Chair coincided with key shifts in the foundation’s direction, including the launch of new strategic priorities and the response to COVID-19’s far-reaching impacts. She chaired the (PIC) launched by SDF in 2023, helping shape forward-thinking public-private partnerships for regional change.
Kay’s service stretched across nearly every major board committee, from Governance & Nominating (where she served as Vice Chair), to Strategic Planning, to Finance & Administration. At each table, she was known for championing board governance, asking inclusive questions and inspiring action.
Her legacy is rooted not just in what she accomplished, but how she led with clarity and a collaborative spirit.
A Collective Legacy
While each of these four leaders brought distinct gifts to their board roles, they share a common thread: an unwavering belief in the power of community philanthropy to create a more equitable and thriving San Diego.
As they transition from their formal board roles, their impact endures — in the soundness of our financial systems, in the strength of our governance and in the boldness of our vision. We extend our deepest thanks to Steve, Cindy, Cliff and Kay for their years of devoted service. We are better because of them, and so is San Diego.
