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Community Foundation Taps Chief Philanthropy Officer
MVD
Melissa Van Diepen

Stanislaus Community Foundation (SCF), a charitable organization dedicated to stewarding charitable resources and building a more vibrant Stanislaus, has announced the hiring of Melissa Van Diepen as Chief Philanthropy Officer.

In this new position, Van Diepen will lead all asset development and marketing efforts on behalf of Stanislaus Community Foundation, combining donor stewardship, customized philanthropic programs, and marketing/communications to build and deploy charitable assets in the community. Additionally, in her role, Van Diepen is responsible for the development of donor-facing tools and strategies that further the philanthropic impact of current donors who give through SCF to local organizations and causes.

Van Diepen grew up in Fresno and is a graduate of California State University, Fresno and is accredited as a Certified Fund Raising Executive. She finds fulfillment working for organizations with strong missions of service. She started her career in 1997 at The Modesto Bee and moved to the nonprofit sector in 2011 with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. She joined Community Hospice Foundation in 2015 as the Major Gifts Officer and was promoted to Executive Director in 2018. Currently, she is the president of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Yosemite Chapter.

“We are excited to have Melissa join Stanislaus Community Foundation,” said Marian Kaanon, Foundation CEO and President. “With her background and relationships, we are strengthening our superior level of service to those who entrust us with their charitable funds. We are also doubling down on bringing more philanthropic dollars to meet the changing needs of our region.”

Stanislaus Community Foundation is a place-based funder that has served the residents of Stanislaus County since 2002. The vision of Stanislaus Community Foundation is to create a community of choice where people can live, work, and thrive. To support this vision, SCF nurtures partnerships and grows charitable resources to advance the common good in Stanislaus County.

Since 2002, Stanislaus Community Foundation has been a catalyst to transform local resources into common good through strategic philanthropy and bold leadership. Over the years, the Foundation has granted more than $28 million to nonprofits and scholarship recipients in Stanislaus County. Stanislaus Community Foundation houses more than 170 funds and close to $46 million in total charitable assets. For more information, visit www.StanislausCF.org.