Since May 2000, Shelley M. Hoss has served as president and chief executive officer of the Orange County CommunityFoundation (OCCF) – one of the largest and fastest growing community foundations in the nation, fueled by a mission to inspire passion for lifelong philanthropy and drive sustainable impact in Orange County and beyond.
Under Hoss’ leadership, OCCF’s impact has grown dramatically as a driver of innovative solutions. OCCF initiatives have addressed issues ranging from the needs of veterans and military families transitioning to civilian life, to embracing the importance and potential of immigrant communities and building a more just, civil and equitable Orange County.
During Hoss’ tenure, OCCF’s grant and scholarship awards have surged more than twenty-fold, from $5 million annually when she joined OCCF, to $100 million annually since 2020. This dramatic growth has placed OCCF as a stand-out among more than 780 U.S. community foundations, ranking as the 3rd most active grantmaker in the nation. The Foundation’s cumulative granting since inception has grown to $975 million under Hoss’ leadership, placing OCCF well within reach of its goal to become one of only 35 community foundations in the nation to reach $1 billion in granting.
Under Hoss’ leadership, OCCF has become recognized as a “center of gravity” for philanthropy in Orange County – and itsasset growth has also been dramatic. Assets stewarded by the Foundation have increased from $42 million in 2000 to $570 million today, placing OCCF in the top 7% in assets among U.S. community foundations.
Prior to joining the Community Foundation, Hoss served at the helm of Girls Incorporated of Orange County, leading programs that inspire girls to be strong, smart and bold. She started her career with 10 years at the Orangewood Children’s Foundation, leading programs to help children in the foster care system transition successfully to independent life.
Hoss served as founding chair of Orange County Grantmakers, chaired and served on the board of the League of CaliforniaCommunity Foundations and currently co-chairs their Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee, and has been a regular guest lecturer at Stanford Graduate School of Business and the Merage School of Business at UC Irvine. She is frequently sought for her insights about the nonprofit community by regional media, and contributes thought leadership editorials to the Orange CountyBusiness Journal, Orange County Register, Forbes Nonprofit Council, and national philanthropic publications. She is a Phi Beta Kappa scholar with a joint Master’s Degree in Business and Public Administration from the University of California, Irvine.