053: Former foundation CEO shares wisdom and experience

My guest for this episode is Rick Williams. Rick is the former CEO of the Sobrato Family Foundation,(SFF) one of Silicon Valley's largest philanthropic organizations, with annual charitable investments in excess of $40 million. Prior to joining SFF, Rick founded and was President of Realize Consulting Group, a management consulting firm focused on creating effective and sustainable solutions for philanthropic and nonprofit organizations and the communities they serve. He also served at the Director of the Asset Funders Network, USA, a national community of foundations and grantmakers advancing programs and policies that promote economic opportunity by helping low-income individuals build and protect financial assets. Rick served as National Programs Director of the Charles and Helen Schwab Foundation where he oversaw grantmaking in the areas of homelessness, substance abuse, foster youth, after-school services, and poverty prevention. He is currently the Board Chair of Pivotal the largest Silicon Valley organization focused on meeting the educational and career needs of foster youth. Previously Rick served as the Board Chairperson of Archbishop Mitty High School in San Jose, and served on many boards including of Northern California Grantmakers, National Council of Family Philanthropy to name a few and he was a founding board member of Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (GEO). Rick's executive experience includes being COO/CFO of Uplift Family Services, Deputy Director of the Santa Clara County Mental Health Department, Director of the Santa Clara County's psychiatric inpatient services, and Assistant Executive Director of the Adult and Child Guidance Center. Rick holds a Master of Arts degree in clinical psychology from Antioch University. He resides in Northern California with his wife of 34 years Barb. He has a daughter who working and living in New York and a son who is working and living in Silicon Valley. Rick shares his experiences and insights from his extensive background. We discuss the state of philanthropy, cross-sector collaboration, and the role absence of opportunity plays in so many of the challenges our social sector addresses. Be sure to subscribe to Inspired Nonprofit Leadership so that you don't miss a single episode, and while you're at it, won't you take a moment to write a short review and rate our show? It would be greatly appreciated!   Let me know the topics or questions you would like to hear about in a future episode. You can do that, and follow us, on Facebook. To learn more about our previous guests, listen to past episodes, and get to know your host, go to: Hiland Consulting To get the free guide I created for you go to: How to Engage Your Board in Fundraising.