Roxie Jerde has been the president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County since 2011. As such, she works closely with Community Foundation donors, along with area nonprofits, businesses, and foundations, to solve important issues affecting our community, always searching for answers that impact multiple generations through shared values. 

Under her leadership, the Community Foundation has inspired philanthropy across the region through The Giving Partner, as well as the Giving Challenge, which has raised more than $92 million for local causes over nine challenges hosted over the last 12 years. Other initiatives Roxie oversees include Season of Sharing, the Campaign for Grade Level Reading and EdExploreSRQ, and the Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund; while all unique, each of these programs expands opportunities and ideas for everyone in our community.

Marilyn Thompson is the Community Foundation’s board chair and a retired human resources executive who has held high-level and impactful roles at companies such as General Electric, GlaxoSmithKline, and Johnson & Johnson. Marilyn also has broad experience and an extensive reach with area nonprofits, which she brings to bear for the Community Foundation. 

She began her journey at the foundation as a volunteer consultant, creating and implementing a leadership development program for nonprofit leaders. Since 2021, she has served as vice chair on the Community Foundation’s board and has been involved with organizations like the Women’s Resource Center, Take Stock in Children, and the International Women’s Forum. Marilyn is also a founding member and past president of Masala Giving Circle, focusing on streng- thening minority-serving organizations.

About the Community Foundation

• Since the Community Foundation of Sarasota County was founded in 1979, more than $435 million in grants has been invested back into the four county region to support a variety of causes, from education to hunger relief.

• Thanks to donor generosity, we build long term funding to strengthen our nonprofit community now, and for generations to come.

2635 Fruitville Rd. 
Sarasota, FL 34237
941.955.3000
CFSarasota.org