After 17 years with Rose Community Foundation, Anne Garcia is retiring from her role as chief financial and operating officer on June 20, 2019.  Since 2002, Anne has been an integral member of the Foundation’s leadership team, managing its finance and administrative endeavors while working closely with the Board of Trustees and Investment and Budget committees to direct the Foundation’s financial strategy and growth.

After the unexpected death of Sheila Bugdanowitz in December 2016, Anne stepped into the role of interim president and CEO, shepherding the Foundation through the transition and participating with the board selection committee in the national search for a new CEO. Her leadership and guidance during this period were invaluable and ensured the Foundation could continue its important work in the Greater Denver community without interruption.

“Anne’s quiet strength and strong position of high integrity have been so central to the Rose Community Foundation over the many years,” said Katherine Gold, current chair of the Foundation’s board of trustees.  “She has served this community so gracefully through the many transitions using her strong leadership skills. Cheers to a well-earned, beautiful retirement, Anne!”

Anne’s tenure at Rose Community Foundation was a period of significant growth of both the Foundation’s assets and its impact in the community. During this time, she strategically navigated the complex finances of a community foundation, which accepts charitable contributions, stewards donor-advised funds, manages an invested corpus to generate funds for grants to nonprofit partners, and supports nonprofits’ sustainability by hosting their endowment funds.  She successfully managed many complex financial projects including the 2018 transaction to bring financial stability to the Denver Jewish Community Center (JCC) and even intentionally hired her successor, Gretchen Lenamond, nearly two years before her planned retirement.

“Anne is one of the best executives that I’ve had the privilege to work with over many years; smart, passionate and dedicated,” said the 2015-17 Rose Community Foundation Board Chair Jerry Glick. “Congratulations to Anne on a job more than well done.”

Anne has also served the Greater Denver community through many volunteer leadership roles. She currently serves on the Urban Land Conservancy board and the Elevation Community Land Trust advisory board. She is a past board president of Girl Scouts – Mile Hi Council, past board chair of Colorado Nonprofit Development Center and a former board member of Colorado Association of Funders and the Colorado Nonprofit Loan Fund.

Urban Land Conservancy President and CEO Aaron Miripol shared: “Urban Land Conservancy would not be what we are today without Anne’s guidance and strategic thinking. There are so many organizations that would mirror that comment; she has made an enormous impact in the lives of so many.”

Anne is looking forward to spending more time traveling, golfing and enjoying the outdoors with her husband, family and friends.

“I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to partner with Anne the past year-and-a-half,” said Rose Community Foundation President and CEO Lindy Eichenbaum Lent. “She always brings a sense of calm, steadiness and sense of humor to every project, no matter how complex.  We will miss her longstanding commitment to the organization, our partners and staff, but we give Anne our warmest congratulations and best wishes for the well-earned adventures that await her.”