Ventura County Community Foundation Welcomes New Vice President and Director of Strategic Initiatives

CAMARILLO, CA – The Ventura County Community Foundation is delighted to announce its two newest team members, Vice President Gary Byrne and Director of Strategic Initiatives Roshin Mathew.

Before joining VCCF, Byrne served as president and CEO of the Community Foundation for San Benito County. As one of CFSB’s first staff members, he helped develop the foundation to reach the grantmaking capacity of over $100 million. He has dedicated the last 30 years to nonprofit development and management, in addition to working and volunteering in education, social services and the nonprofit sector.

Byrne is experienced in donor relations, capital campaign management, feasibility studies, education and training for nonprofits and boards. His prior work also includes working on an $80 million capital bond for the Los Gatos-Saratoga school district. He received his bachelor’s degree from All Hallows College of Dublin City University, and he was a recipient of the Community Leadership Award in 2005 from Leadership San Benito.

As vice president, while his responsibilities may vary greatly day to day, Byrne’s work will support VCCF’s president and CEO Vanessa Bechtel in promoting the foundation and its initiatives throughout Ventura County. He will also be involved with VCCF’s philanthropic office through his services to help donors and fundholders.

“My wife and I are so excited to start a new adventure in Ventura County,” Byrne said. “The welcome and beauty has been amazing.”

Roshin Mathew brings years of experience from renowned organizations across the country. She came to VCCF from the Women Donors Network, and prior to that the California Community Foundation, one of the nation’s largest community foundations. At CCF, she helped develop and implement strategies to increase awareness of their commitment to bringing systemic change to and improving the lives of Los Angeles County’s under-resourced communities. She also worked as communications director of Venture Philanthropy Partners and helped position the group as a leader in improving the lives of young people in Washington, D.C. through investing in nonprofits and strategic networks. Additional past work includes Service Employees International Union, Occidental College and the Center for Community Change.

Roshin Mathew studied political science at Reed College and received her master’s degree from the University of Maryland College of Information. She is also a former Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellow, where she gained field and policy experience for advocacy in the areas of social justice, poverty and food insecurity.

In her role as director of strategic initiatives, Roshin Mathew will use her skills to lead and advance VCCF’s community leadership through identifying growth opportunities, developing strategic plans and ensuring those plans’ successful rollouts. She brings her years of experience leading fundraising, organizing, marketing and advocacy campaigns, as well as a passion for storytelling and community development. Her work will also include managing complex community impact projects like the Isabella Project and building collaborative relationships.

“No matter what I do, I want to do it with good people,” Roshin Mathew said. “Those I have come to know in VCCF’s community – its leadership and staff, board and importantly its nonprofit partners and donors – are all kind, thoughtful and strategic. VCCF’s commitment to build a brighter, stronger future for our Ventura County by connecting people, resources and solutions is, well, inspiring. And I knew I had to be a part of it.”

“We’re thrilled to welcome Gary and Roshin to the Ventura County Community Foundation family!” Bechtel said. “They bring incredible talent and passion to our shared vision of growing philanthropy and creating lasting impact right here at home. Their leadership will push us to be even better—dreaming bigger, reaching further and deepening our commitment to serve the residents of Ventura County.”

About VCCF 

Established in 1987, the Ventura County Community Foundation has focused on building philanthropy in our region by stewarding legacies through careful management of the charitable capital entrusted to us. We are committed to a long-term perspective for Ventura County. We honor donor intent by protecting endowments forever and we specialize in connecting philanthropic resources with community needs for the benefit of all. We invest in the future through scholarships, grant making and collaborative partnerships. vccf.org

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