Staff Appreciation, Meet John E. McGuirk

Here is this week’s CFSC Staff Appreciation!

John E. McGuirk is a creative strategist with more than two decades of grantmaking experience at the William & Flora Hewlett Foundation, James Irvine Foundation, and Arts Council Silicon Valley (now SV Creates). John is also an Adjunct Professor at Claremont Graduate University in Los Angeles teaching nonprofit strategic planning and change management.

On most days, you’ll likely find John in the garden. “It’s where I cultivate my creativity,” he explains. “Same with kayaking on the Russian River or playing the piano—it’s a quiet contemplative space from which ideas emerge.”

John brings this creativity to his position as Senior Fellow at the Community Foundation. Since April 2020, he has worked across multiple strategies and departments seeking to maximize our impact on the complex issues we face. John enjoys engaging first-hand with inspiring nonprofit leaders, generous donors, and a broad base of local nonprofit organizations.

Originally from western Pennsylvania, John received his bachelor’s degree in Finance/Business and master’s degree in Nonprofit Business Administration/Arts. He resides in the beautiful countryside along Russian River where he and his husband, Richard, have created abundant organic gardens, and care for their multiple farm animals including emus, ducks, chickens, goats, honeybees, and their cat.