Since she joined the Orange County Community Foundation (OCCF) as president and CEO in 2000, Shelley Hoss has presided over a more than 20-fold growth in the organization’s grants to organizations driving positive change.
Orange County, she says, is a special place, because even its most successful citizens often come from humble roots and wish to repay the kindness and opportunity they were afforded early in life. “We have this incredible opportunity to work with folks who know what it is to be in need,” she says.
In a wide-ranging conversation with Angela Dailey, WISE CEO, Hoss describes how her organization has grown over time and how it tailors philanthropy to meet donor families’ unique and specific requirements.
Check out Shelley’s full interview. It’s part of WISE’s Tearing Down the Pink Wall series, which highlights the success and career journeys of many of Southern California’s most inspiring business women.
Biography:
Shelley M. Hoss
Chief Executive Officer
Since May 2000, Shelley M. Hoss has served as president and chief executive officer of the Orange County Community Foundation (OCCF) – one of the largest and fastest growing community foundations in the nation, fueled by a mission to transform our community’s heartfelt intention into greater impact for good.
Under Hoss’ leadership, OCCF’s impact has grown dramatically. OCCF community initiatives have addressed issues ranging from the needs of veterans and military families transitioning to civilian life, to building a strong, resilient Orange County workforce with opportunities for all to thrive.
During Hoss’ tenure, OCCF’s grant and scholarship awards have surged more than twenty-fold, from $5 million annually when she joined OCCF, to $100 million annually now. This dramatic growth has distinguished OCCF as a stand-out among more than 800 U.S. community foundations, making OCCF the 7th most active grantmaker in the nation and bringing the Foundation’s cumulative granting to more than $1 billion since its inception.
Under Hoss’ leadership, OCCF has become recognized as a “center of gravity” for philanthropy in Orange County – and its asset growth has also been dramatic. Assets stewarded by the Foundation have increased from $42 million in 2000 to $605 million today, placing OCCF in the top 7% in assets among U.S. community foundations.
Prior to joining the Community Foundation, Hoss served at the helm of Girls Incorporated of Orange County, leading programs that inspire girls to be strong, smart and bold. She started her career with 10 years at the Orangewood Children’s Foundation, leading programs to help children in the foster care system transition successfully to independent life.
Hoss served as founding chair of Orange County Grantmakers, chaired and served on the board of the League of California Community Foundations, and has been a regular guest lecturer at Stanford Graduate School of Business and the Merage School of Business at UC Irvine. She is frequently sought for her insights about the nonprofit community by regional media, and contributes thought leadership editorials to the Orange County Business Journal, Forbes Nonprofit Council, and national philanthropic publications. She is a Phi Beta Kappa scholar with a joint Master’s Degree in Business and Public Administration from the University of California, Irvine.
