Elana Solon
Philanthropic Advisor
As Philanthropic Advisor, Elana works to cultivate, engage, and build purposeful relationships with donors and the community.
A native of Santa Cruz County, Elana aims to be an integral part of this new era of giving as she works to support the Foundation’s highest philanthropic priorities. This work includes partnering with donors on their short- and long-term giving plans, as well as executing community events and workshops, including co-producing the recent TEDxSantaCruz, which served to elevate the brilliance of local leaders of color.
Nonprofit work has been a common thread throughout Elana’s life, volunteering with youth-, education- and culturally based organizations since childhood, including The Japan-America Society of Washington, D.C., Women and Youth Supporting Each other (WYSE) at Yale, and, locally, Reggie Stephens Foundation, the Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce, and Santa Cruz Sister Cities Shingu Subcommittee. Elana also serves on the boards for Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Cruz County, Project Daraja, and the board for Leadership Santa Cruz County as well as being a Class 37 graduate.
Ask Elana about...
Ask her about becoming a new fund holder and other opportunities to give back locally! A natural networker, Elana loves connecting like-minded people and organizations to each other. Let her know why you love Santa Cruz County, and she’ll help guide you toward the individuals and groups who place what you love at the heart of what they do.
