ED FUND - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Member of the PROGRAM TEAM
- Coordinator, College Success ( 2 Year Colleges ), Maisin
Aldo (he/him/his) has always demonstrated a passion for working within the community, and was eager to join the non-profit sector after graduating from San Francisco State University with a Bachelor's degree in Sociology. Aldo joined the Ed Fund as a College Success Coordinator and works with the Maisin Scholar Award team to provide mentorship, financial support, and academic advising to all current and new Maisin scholars. He believes education is the best tool youth have to abolish the existing inequities within the collegiate system and he is proud to be a part of a scholarship foundation that shares his same values. Aside from his professional duties, Aldo spends most of his free time riding his bike around San Francisco, shooting film photography, and collecting the odd vinyl record here and there. Originally from Redwood City, Aldo moved to San Francisco and immediately found a welcoming community of students, artists, and CBO staff. He is more than excited to continue his career at the SF Ed Fund and looks forward to cultivating meaningful relationships with future Maisin scholars.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- Member of the LEADERSHIP TEAM
Ann Walden (she/her/hers) is a dedicated and experienced organizational leader with a background in public education, spanning over two decades. Her unwavering commitment to providing high-quality public education to every student has driven her to champion programs that uplift vulnerable communities. Growing up in the Bay Area, Ann has a profound understanding of the region's strengths and the persisting gaps and systemic inequalities affecting many students and families.
Throughout her career, Ann has honed her expertise in people and program management, leading successful change efforts in both school districts and education nonprofits. Her passion lies in developing and launching programs and organizations that enhance urban education. In her career Ann has collaborated closely with national and local education philanthropic leaders, school district administrators, state education offices, charter authorizers, universities, and community stakeholders to align strategies, influence decisions, and find solutions at the systems level.
One of Ann's significant achievements was serving as the inaugural Executive Director of The Primary School in East Palo Alto. Under her leadership, this innovative school model thrived, managing a substantial budget of over $9 million and overseeing a team of around 100 staff members. She prioritized building strong relationships with families and stakeholders, ensuring educational excellence and authentic community participation.
Ann's impact also extended to Western NY, where she contributed to shaping and implementing a regional Foundation's charter school and human capital investment strategy. Collaborating closely with grantees, she successfully achieved strategic objectives. Prior to this, Ann worked at Chicago Public Schools, providing support to a network of 40 schools on their federally and state-funded school improvement mission.
With a Master of Education in Urban Education Leadership from the Broad Residency and a Master of Arts in Educational Development from Columbia University Teacher's College, Ann remains steadfast in her dedication to improving public education and advancing equitable opportunities for all students. She continues to use her voice and expertise to advocate for a world where high-quality public education is accessible to every student.
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD
- President / Senior Director, Talent Development, Snap Inc
Job Titles:
- Executive Director of 826 Valencia, Co - Lead of the Coalition
Job Titles:
- Member of the PROGRAM TEAM
- Volunteer Coordinator
Job Titles:
- English Teacher, Design ( Thinking ) Fellow, St. Ignatius College Preparatory
Job Titles:
- Member of the PROGRAM TEAM
Job Titles:
- Partner, Dragoneer Investment Group
Job Titles:
- Member of the LEADERSHIP TEAM
- Head of Strategic Growth and Philanthropy
Ginny Fang (she/her/hers) has spent over 20 years empowering public-private partnerships, leveraging the strengths of each towards greater social good. Starting from the time she served as a Program Director at the OMI Excelsior Beacon Center (at James Denman Middle School) to facilitating cross-sector teams to address environmental justice to the recent past where she has raised more than half a billion dollars towards economic development and job creation, Ms. Fang has held both operational and executive leadership positions. In the last decade, Ms. Fang fulfilled the role as the founding executive for two international organizations, responsible for fundraising, operationalizing, building a strong team, and creating a lasting foundation for successful operation. The first, an economic development initiative called ChinaSF founded in 2008, was structured as a non-profit public-private partnership between the SF Mayor's office (under then Mayor Newsom), the SF Chamber of Commerce, and a Board of major private-sector companies. Ms. Fang successfully led and grew ChinaSF for over 3 years. ChinaSF continues to thrive and has expanded into GlobalSF. From there, Ms. Fang moved into the private sector and was the founding CEO for a private finance company, Golden Gate Global, that raised funds to be invested in private public partnership real estate development projects (Oakland's Brooklyn Basin, SF's Hunters Point Shipyard, Sacramento's Downtown Commons and new Golden 1 Arena). In the six years under her leadership, Golden Gate Global raised approximately $600 million.
Ms. Fang holds a Master of Public Policy from UC Berkeley's Goldman School of Public Policy, and completed her undergraduate studies at Dartmouth University. She lives in San Francisco with her husband and three sons.
With significant initial operating funding coming from the S.H. Cowell Foundation, the Ed Fund quickly grew into an established organization that placed tens of thousands of dollars in grants into the hands of teachers across the district. At the time, Superintendent Robert Alioto said, "We are delighted to have this tangible link between schools and community. The [Ed] Fund… demonstrates that all San Franciscans have a stake in public schools." By the end of her eleven-year tenure as the Executive Director of the Ed Fund, Glady had worked with local foundations and philanthropists to establish an endowment that would ensure teachers would have access to grants into the future. As of 2022, the organization has given over $15 million to students, teachers and schools in SFUSD.
Job Titles:
- San Francisco School Volunteers Founder
In 2009 the San Francisco Education Fund merged with San Francisco School Volunteers, an organization founded in 1963 by Gretchen de Baubigny to place community members in classrooms to support teachers and students.
Job Titles:
- Member of the PROGRAM TEAM
- Senior Coordinator, Corporate Partnerships
Gyasi (he/him/his) is a passionate advocate for youth and the LGBTQIA+ & TGNC community. He has a background in nonprofit work and education. Gyasi has worked closely with youth and the education system the last several years addressing the systems that continue to affect our most vulnerable youth. He holds a Masters in Organization and Leadership from the University of San Francisco. As a senior coordinator, he is excited to bring his passions and innovative thought processes to the Ed Fund.
In addition to his professional work, he is a creative on the side. He enjoys making music and performing live.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director of Reading Partners
Job Titles:
- Director of Programs
- Member of the LEADERSHIP TEAM
Jenny (she/her/hers) has worked in the nonprofit industry for nearly a decade, gaining experience in youth development, education, and social impact. Jenny joined the Ed Fund in 2018, as part of the Corporate Volunteer Engagement Program, Circle the Schools. Jenny has worked in various roles while always supporting underserved youth and exposing them to new opportunities. As the Director of Programs, she is passionate about advancing equity by partnering local companies and schools to provide career exposure to students, and bring resources into SF's highest needs schools. By utilizing the vast amount of resources SF has to offer, she builds strong relationships with differing worlds to build a stronger city and community. Outside of the office, Jenny enjoys getting to experience the beautiful outdoors the Bay has to offer through camping and hiking. Originally from the Los Angeles suburbs, Jenny ventured to the Mid-West for college and graduated with a BA in Communications from Indiana University.
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD
- Treasurer / Principal, Hellman & Friedman
Job Titles:
- Director of Partnerships of BookNook
Job Titles:
- Managing Director at Deloitte Consulting LLP
Job Titles:
- Member of the DEVELOPMENT & OPERATIONS TEAM
- Associate, Development and Communications
Meg Rahner (she/her/hers) has worked in the communications industry for over 10 years, with experience in public relations, social media, and media relations. She is passionate about storytelling and spearheading creative ways to bring communities together. Outside of the office, Meg enjoys hiking and biking, and serves on the board of the North of Panhandle Neighborhood Association (NOPNA), where she focuses on event planning. In July 2020, she organized a 4.1 mile continuous hopscotch course, in which hundreds of neighbors participated (at a safe distance - of course). This event, which NOPNA dubbed "Hopscotch Your Block," ultimately earned neighbors the unofficial world record holder title.
Job Titles:
- Member of the DEVELOPMENT & OPERATIONS TEAM
- Development & Impact Analyst
A recipient of the Maisin Scholarship, Mylen (she/her/hers) served as a Development Intern at the Ed Fund throughout her senior year at UC Irvine. Mylen has a deep passion for research and data, and one of her values is giving back to a community that has served her. Eager to continue working with the team that has a great passion for serving the students, Mylen was hired as the Ed Fund's Development Analyst in July, 2021. In 2023, she began her role as Development & Impact Analyst.
Job Titles:
- Deputy Director of Innovation and Impact, Raising a Reader
If you'd like to get involved in the Literacy Coalition, please contact communications@sfedfund.org.
Job Titles:
- Member of the PROGRAM TEAM
- Manager, Maisin Scholar Program
Job Titles:
- Corporate Development and Investments, Hewlett Packard Enterprise
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD
- Vice President / Director of Office Operations, Hanson Bridgett LLP
Job Titles:
- Member of the LEADERSHIP TEAM
- Senior Director of Talent and Operations
Prior to joining the Ed Fund as the Director of Talent and Operations in January, 2021, Rebecca (she/her/hers) served for 15 years as the Assistant Head of School and Lower School Director at the now-largest preschool-8th grade Independent School in San Francisco, shepherding the school as it doubled in size along the way. A quick study when faced with anything new, Rebecca is known for her grace under fire, her integrity and her pragmatic and wise, people-centered leadership.
Rebecca honed her leadership skills through an MA in Educational Leadership and as a CORO Fellow in Public Affairs. She has been a passionate educator and advocate for under-resourced children and families as a Teach for America 5th grade Teacher in Long Beach, CA and as the Academic Program Coordinator for the "I Have a Dream Foundation" in San Francisco. She has traveled extensively as a writer of untold stories from History for the US Trek, a volunteer archaeologist for Earthwatch, and a team leader of high school summer service trips for Landmark Volunteers, as well as studying abroad via Semester at Sea. Originally from the Chicago suburbs, Rebecca is a proud graduate with a BA in English Literature from the University of Texas, Austin.
Job Titles:
- Member of the LEADERSHIP TEAM
- Director of Development & Impact
Rebecca (she/her/hers) joined the Ed Fund in 2021 with experience in development strategy, fundraising, events, and communications. She has worked in the nonprofit and advocacy space since 2019. As a former teacher, Rebecca is passionate about learners connecting with the communities they will one day lead. Rebecca is energized by building relationships and partnering with those who believe that learners and their families are a city's greatest strength. Outside of the office, she enjoys hiking, listening to podcasts, baking vegan treats, and reading Stephen King books.
Job Titles:
- Programs Supervisor at Tandem
Job Titles:
- Member of the PROGRAM TEAM
- Partnerships Manager
Ronald Lyons (he/him/his) was born and raised in Fort Valley, GA. He graduated from Georgia Southern University with a Bachelors in Sport Management.
Incorporating his passion for athletics, community engagement, and DE&I, Ronald accepted a job with the United States Tennis Association (USTA) and spent the next six years focused on bringing new initiatives to BIPOC communities across the state of Florida. From creating partnerships with large companies to grassroots tennis programming, Ronald was able to amplify voices of individuals usually not benefited in the tennis community.
After leaving USTA, Ronald wanted to shift his focus to policy advocacy through the scope of antiracism. While working at 904ward, Ronald not only focused on expanding their programming but also invested time fostering partnerships with nonprofit agencies, community organizations, academic institutions, and faith-based organizations seeking to advance their DEIB values to grow their business practices and community building.
Ronald is excited to be joining such a wonderful team and bringing his expertise and passions to the Bay Area! In his free time, Ronald can be found on the nearest tennis court, exploring a new area in the city, or attending an R&B concert.
Job Titles:
- Member of the PROGRAM TEAM
- Coordinator, College Success ( 4 Year Colleges ), Maisin
Samantha (she/her/hers) is the College Success Coordinator for 4-year students at the San Francisco Education Fund and loves serving as a resource for youth to flourish professionally and personally in their educational journey. She has spent time in her career working in after school programming as well as in the private sector as an administrative assistant, gaining experiences supporting a diverse population of students and project teams. While supporting Maisin scholars is her primary job function by day, Sam also enjoys spending time with family and friends, exploring outside, trying out new hobbies and finding any reason to get a mango boba. Growing up in the Bay Area, Sam moved to San Diego for college and earned her B.A. in English from San Diego State University. She's excited to be part of the Ed Fund and looks forward to working within the Maisin team.
Job Titles:
- Member of the PROGRAM TEAM
- Senior Coordinator, Strategic Projects
Sara Geliebter (she/her/hers) has a passion for equitable education and social justice that comes from years of working in various non-profit sectors. She gained experience working with youth, families, young adults and community partners. As the Senior Coordinator of Strategic Projects, she is passionate about community development, building connections and making education attainable for all students. Sara dedicates her personal life to bodybuilding, traveling, getting outside and spending time with loved ones.
Job Titles:
- Member of the DEVELOPMENT & OPERATIONS TEAM
- Associate, Operations & Tech
Shelby (she/her/hers) is the Associate of Operations & Technology at the Ed Fund and loves helping people build connections, problem solving, and supporting her colleagues. She joined the Ed Fund in 2016 and spent most of her time as Math Program Coordinator, creating relationships with volunteer math tutors, teachers, and students. Outside of the office, Shelby enjoys traveling, spending time with family, and expanding her sneaker collection. A Bay Area native, Shelby earned her BA in World Literature and Cultural Studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz.
Job Titles:
- CEO of SF Ed Fund, Co - Lead of the Coalition
Job Titles:
- Member of the PROGRAM TEAM
- School Site Coordinator
Job Titles:
- West Executive Director of Springboard Collaborative
Job Titles:
- Member of the PROGRAM TEAM
- Senior Coordinator, Volunteer Engagement
Tom (he/him/his) has worked in the non-profit sector for over 20 years, in both volunteer management and fundraising roles. His passion is working with volunteers, something he has done most of those years, first for the San Francisco Botanical Garden Society and for the past nearly 10 years for the Ed Fund. He feels strongly that volunteering can be one of the most powerful acts a person can do. Tom believes the work the Ed Fund is doing is of tremendous importance and wants every volunteer who furthers that work to know they are appreciated by the Ed Fund staff for the time they give out of their week to help students and teachers thrive.
Outside of the office, Tom enjoys gardening, both indoors and outdoors, and is a member of several local plant clubs. His lifelong passion for animals has led to countless animal companions over the years and led him to one of his most rewarding life experiences; developing a close friendship with Koko, the gorilla who communicated with humans via sign language, during eight years volunteering for the Gorilla Foundation in Woodside, CA.