We are thrilled to welcome Anna María Chávez to our dynamic board of forward-looking community foundation CEOs from across the country.
“We are pleased to welcome Anna María Chávez to the CFLeads Board of Directors. With her exceptional expertise and proven leadership across multiple sectors, Anna will be an invaluable asset to CFLeads as we continue to create and foster innovative ways to advance the community foundation field,” said Mary L. Thomas, President & CEO of CFLeads.
“We’re excited to have Anna María Chávez join the CFLeads Board of Directors. Her proven track record of success will be instrumental in supporting CFLeads’ mission as we continue to expand our impact throughout the community foundation field,” said Isaiah Oliver, CFLeads Board Chair and President of The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida.
Anna María Chávez, Esq. is the President & CEO of the Arizona Community Foundation (ACF), a statewide organization whose mission is to lead, serve, and collaborate to mobilize enduring philanthropy for a better Arizona. Founded in 1978, ACF is the state’s largest statewide grant maker and manages more than 2,000 funds. Headquartered in Phoenix and with six regional offices throughout the state, ACF has distributed more grants and loans throughout Arizona, across the United States, and internationally than any other Arizona-based foundation.
Chávez is a dedicated advocate for helping others across every stage of life. With over 30 years of public service and nonprofit leadership experience, Chávez is passionate about teaching the value of teamwork, strong leadership, and self-motivation. Recognized for her exceptional leadership, Chávez was named one of Fortune Magazine’s World’s Greatest Leaders (2016) and honored as one of the most creative people in business by Fast Company (2014). In 2021, she was named one of the top 50 Over 50 women leaders by Forbes Magazine.
From 2011-2016, Chávez led the iconic Girl Scouts of the USA, where she helped bring the 104-year-old institution into the future with a historic girl-centric organizational redesign. She also previously led the National Council on Aging (NCOA) and the National School Boards Association (NSBA).
A sought-after thought leader, Chávez has appeared on top national news outlets including ABC News, CBS News, NBC’s The Today Show, FOX News Channel, CNBC, CNN, PBS, Bloomberg Radio, Telemundo, Univision, and NPR. Chávez earned a bachelor’s degree from Yale University and a juris doctorate at the James E. Rogers College of Law at the University of Arizona. She has been admitted to the Bar of the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona, the Arizona Supreme Court, and the U.S. Supreme Court.
“I am honored to join the CFLeads Board of Directors to collaborate with a network of visionary leaders dedicated to advancing community leadership. CFLeads’ commitment to building strong communities through effective practices, shared knowledge, and galvanizing action on critical issues resonates deeply with me. I am excited to contribute to our collective efforts in driving meaningful change across our communities.”
