The San Diego Foundation Introduces Susan Guinn as New Chief Innovation Officer

For Immediate Release

• Guinn to implement strategies to support new regional business opportunities
• Guinn’s past achievements include founding KidsEcoClub, presiding over St. Paul’s Foundation for International Reconciliation, and most recently serving as special advisor to County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher

What

The San Diego Foundation announced that Susan Guinn has been hired as chief innovation officer. With a passion for and a deep understanding of cross-sector partnerships and San Diego’s nonprofit sector, Guinn will seek new funding opportunities and cross-sector initiatives that will allow The San Diego Foundation and its partners to better address community needs in the San Diego County region.

Why

Guinn is an experienced litigator with three decades of law practice spanning climate protection, consumer rights and product safety, workers’ rights, and human rights, including wins against Big Tobacco. With her extensive legal background and passion for philanthropy, Guinn will further The San Diego Foundation’s mission of enabling community solutions to improve the quality of life in our region. She’ll use her background to identify, develop and implement cross-sector initiatives for new growth opportunities through business development and partnerships that ensure The San Diego Foundation’s sustainability for the future. 

Background

Guinn most recently served as special advisor to San Diego County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher and currently serves on the COVID-19 Community Response Fund’s Granting and Executive Committees. Previously, Guinn founded KidsEcoClub with her son in 2010 and was President of St. Paul’s Foundation for International Reconciliation, a nonprofit which provides legal and financial support to the St Paul’s Center in Kampala Uganda. The center provides women’s self-help and advocacy programs, HIV education and prevention, literacy training, and micro loan programs to underserved populations in Uganda and elsewhere.

She also served as the chair of the Environmental and Sustainability Committee for the San Diego Unified School District to assist with strategic partnerships. Guinn has volunteered her time on the boards of San Diego Zoo Global, Equality California and Consumer Attorneys of California.

Quotes

“I am grateful for the opportunity to have a direct and positive impact in the San Diego region with this new role at The San Diego Foundation,” said Susan Guinn, chief innovation officer of The San Diego Foundation. “As Chief Innovation Officer, I hope to identify and create more opportunities that will improve the lives of thousands of my fellow San Diegans.” “We’re excited to have someone like Susan as part of the team and know she’ll help The San Diego Foundation expand our partnerships and identify new funding opportunities that will help benefit communities across the region,” said Mark Stuart, president and CEO of The San Diego Foundation. “Susan brings a unique set of skills, as well as a deep understanding of the region, which will help us grow our impact for decades to come.”