The San Diego Foundation Announces Pamela Gray Payton as New Chief Impact and Partnerships Officer

For Immediate Release

May 27, 2020 – San Diego, CA – The San Diego Foundation today announced that Pamela Gray Payton has been hired as Chief Impact and Partnerships Officer, Vice President of Community Impact.

Guided by a mission to inspire enduring philanthropy and enable community solutions, Pamela will oversee The San Diego Foundation’s Community Impact programs, leading the organization’s strategic initiatives that advance quality of life for San Diegans. In this position of Chief Impact and Partnerships Officer, Vice President of Community Impact, Pamela will play a critical role in developing cross-sector partnerships and implementing future strategic plans for The San Diego Foundation. Pamela will also utilize her background in government and community relations to inform policy development and advocacy on behalf of the philanthropic and nonprofit community.

“We are lucky to have a leader like Pamela as part of our leadership team and we look forward to the strategic direction she will provide in helping advance quality of life for all San Diegans,” shared Mark Stuart, President & CEO of The San Diego Foundation. “Pamela’s deep roots in the community, as well as her longstanding leadership in the nonprofit sector, will be a tremendous asset to The San Diego Foundation, our fund holders and our many community partners.”

“As a long-time San Diegan, nonprofit leader and community volunteer, I am excited to join The San Diego Foundation during this important moment in its history,” shared Pamela Gray Payton. “The world of philanthropy is evolving and I look forward to forging new relationships and identifying opportunities that build upon the incredible work already being done to address our region’s most complex challenges. I’m excited to roll up my sleeves and work alongside the community to build an inclusive, equitable and vibrant future.”

Pamela previously served as the Assistant Vice President, Community, State, and Local Government Relations; as well as Assistant Vice President of University Communications at the University of San Diego. In both roles, she worked closely with university leadership to build reciprocal community partnerships, as well as develop and implement strategies that advanced the mission of the University of San Diego alongside community partners who shared USD’s commitment to addressing society’s most urgent challenges.

Pamela has served as Board President for RISE San Diego and the Kim Center for Social Balance, and has also volunteered as a board member for La Jolla Country Day School; the San Diego Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc.; and Girl Scouts San Diego.

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About The San Diego Foundation

The San Diego Foundation inspires enduring philanthropy and enables community solutions to improve quality of life in our region. For more than 45 years, The Foundation and our donors have granted more than $1.2 billion to support nonprofit organizations and strengthen our San Diego community. Learn more at SDFoundation.org and consider a donation to the San Diego COVID-19 Community Response Fund, helping nonprofits and San Diegans affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

Contacts

Justin Nunez, The San Diego Foundation, 336-254-7056, justin@sdfoundation.org