The man who has been guiding and growing local philanthropic efforts for 16 years as President/CEO of the Community Foundation for Monterey County, Dan Baldwin, is getting ready to retire, the foundation announced on Wednesday, Oct. 8. He plans on stepping down in 2026, after a new leader is selected.
Baldwin says it’s time to hand over the reins to someone new.
“How I'm feeling at this point, by the time I leave here I’ll be 69, and I think anyone in a position like this should have some awareness of when to create a pathway for new leadership,” he says.
“This has been a remarkable opportunity, being able to implement a vision in cooperation with the board, and amazing support of the staff. But it shouldn't be my vision that dominates forever.”
Since 2010, Baldwin has led the foundation through a period of major growth, with total foundation assets increasing from $130 million to $450 million, tripling the number of charitable funds held at the foundation from 300 to more than 900. He also oversaw an increase of grants distributed, from $6 million in 2010 to $44 million in 2024.
Monterey County Gives!, the annual fundraising campaign the foundation does in partnership with the Monterey County Weekly and the Monterey Peninsula Foundation, has grown from $565,000 raised in 2010 to more than $14.2 million in 2024, setting new records year after year.
“I have this little credo: Impact attracts resources. That growth is a reflection of people wanting to align with us,” Baldwin says. “It’s not a boast—it gives me a sense of appreciation that they want to align their philanthropy with the Community Foundation.”
Other accomplishments during his leadership tenure include the opening of eight disaster relief funds, the creation of the Community Impact Investment program issuing capital campaign loans for nonprofits and creation of the Siembra Latinos Fund and the Fund for Homeless Women. He also facilitated two of the largest gifts in CFMC history, both exceeding $20 million.
Beyond that, Baldwin has provided a leadership role within the community in times of challenge, most notably with the Covid-19 Collaborative and the VIDA Community Health Worker Initiative. Baldwin was able to share a vision of how Monterey County could make its way through the pandemic in speaking publicly at meetings of the Board of Supervisors as well as behind the scenes interacting with community leaders and organizations.
Baldwin says it was perhaps the biggest thing he was proud of for the foundation, “stepping into the vacuum” at the start of the pandemic to create the Covid-19 Collaborative, which provided a table for groups across many areas—agriculture, hospitals and clinics, nonprofits, local governments—to come together to create solutions. Baldwin says he realized he was the one who needed to lead the conversation.
“I’m very self conscious being described as a community leader,” Baldwin says. “The way I view it is that the Community Foundation is this remarkable platform and you want to do your job in the best possible manner…if in the course of doing that people define you or see you as having a leadership role, that’s a wonderful compliment. I seek to do my job as best as I can.”
Baldwin is also proud of the Covid-19 Relief Fund, created in March 2020, that was used exclusively for grants awarded to community groups, to the tune of more than $4 million.
He's led other strategic initiatives for community improvement, including the Salinas Inclusive Economic Development Initiative, also known as SIEDI.
He’s also provided community leadership in other arenas. In 2019 he facilitated the decision-making process on how to award $12 million in state funds to help the region’s unhoused population. The voting by members of the Lead Me Home Leadership Council of the Coalition of Homeless Service Providers was tricky, but Baldwin navigated the situation successfully. The process resulted in the creation of the Casa de Noche Buena Shelter in Seaside and the SHARE Center homeless shelter in Salinas.
“Dan has provided exceptional leadership for the foundation,” CFMC Board Chair Elsa Mendoza Jimenez said in a press release. “Our growth and impact reflect this. His retirement is much deserved, but he will be sorely missed.”
A national search for the next president/CEO will get underway this fall.
“I really appreciate the opportunity to have done this; it's been extremely meaningful,” Baldwin says.
Baldwin and his wife Anne Ylvisaker live in Monterey and have no plans to leave after he retires. They are committed to the community and, he says, “We plan on living out our lives here.”