Jennifer Rhoads has joined the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington to serve as the organization’s vice president of development and president designate.
As an integral part of the senior management team, Rhoads will help guide the direction of the Community Foundation. In addition, her direct responsibilities will lead the organization’s efforts to grow philanthropy throughout Southwest Washington by engaging individuals, families and businesses in philanthropic investment and granting through the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington.
“We are very fortunate to have Jennifer joining our team,” Community Foundation President Richard Melching said. “Her experience in financial services and her keen understanding of our community make her an excellent addition to our organization.”
Before joining the Foundation, Rhoads spent 15 years working extensively in financial planning and wealth management. Most recently, she held the position of senior vice president and director of wealth management at Sterling Bank. In this role, she led a team of 50 employees that provided a variety of professional financial planning services to affluent clients, including charitable planning, trust and estate services. Rhoads is a Certified Financial Planner and a recent graduate of the Pacific Coast Banking School. Rhoads is also a licensed life and disability insurance broker and holds multiple securities licenses.
“Jennifer came to the Community Foundation highly recommended and has excellent leadership and professional skills that will position the Community Foundation to continue to grow and better serve the residents in southwest Washington,” said Kaycee Wiita, board chair for the Community Foundation. “As a life-long resident of Southwest Washington, Jennifer has her finger on the pulse of the people and needs of our region. This will be invaluable as we move forward.”
Rhoads graduated from Washington State University, Pullman with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications from the Edward R. Murrow School of Communications. She has also served in volunteer positions with nonprofit organizations and community events in the area. Currently, Rhoads serves as a board member with the Foundation for Vancouver Public Schools and co-chairs the Citizen’s Committee for Good Schools. She is a past member of the YMCA Board and the WSU Vancouver Advisory Board. In 2010, her record of service earned her a Community Leadership Award from the Washington Association of School Administrators.
“I have always prided myself on volunteering and working hard to make this community a better place to live, so this transition is a gratifying move for me,” Rhoads said. “I’m excited to apply my skills toward encouraging community investments in strategic, local philanthropy.”
Established in 1984, The Community Foundation helps a broad cross section of citizens build stronger communities through effective philanthropy. One of the nation’s 700 community foundations, it is a tax-exempt, public charity that primarily serves southwest Washington. The Foundation holds more than 270 distinct Funds, ranging in size from $10,000 to nearly $6 million, which are pooled, managed and invested to generate growth and income for granting purposes. Governed by a volunteer Board of local leaders, the Foundation offers services to donors and nonprofit organizations, as well as a wide range of benefits to the community.
