Our team
We are a team of equity champions who are passionate about advancing financial justice and impactful systemic change in our communities and in the banking system.
Work with us
We do not have any job openings at this time. Please follow us on social media to stay up to date on opportunities.
We are committed to racial equity in our internal organizational culture and our work to build a more just and inclusive economy.
Administration & Organizational Development
Annie Claybaugh
Vice President, Finance and Operations
Annie oversees operations and the financial health of the foundation. Previously, Annie worked in the health industry and as the Community Outreach Intern at Kiva Microfunds, where she developed blog content and managed their social media accounts. She graduated from San Francisco State University in 2011 with a degree in International Relations and an emphasis in South Asian economic development. She lives in San Francisco and in her free time studies Hindi, trains for running events, and travels.
Pronouns: She/her
Emily Ellickson-Brown
Finance and Organizational Development Manager
Emily supports accounting and human resources for Beneficial State Foundation, managing financial and administrative processes. Emily started her career as a programmatic staff member for nonprofits and quickly discovered her zeal for Excel spreadsheets and records management. For the past decade, she’s used her expertise to support nonprofits, educational institutions, and local businesses. She enjoys bicycling, gardening, and going on adventures with her family.
Pronouns: She/her
Erin Kilmer Neel
Executive Director and Chief Impact Officer
Erin oversees strategy and operations of Beneficial State Foundation and facilitates the development of social and environmental impact standards for Beneficial State Bank and for banking systems change. She is thrilled to be working to address social and environmental injustices that are driven by the banking system. She loves smart comedy, biking, paddling, and anything that involves playing in lakes, rivers, mountains, and beaches with her fabulous husband, Beau.
Pronouns: She/her
Justin Marschke
Operations and Graphic Design Manager
Justin supports Beneficial State Foundation’s operations and creates official design materials. He collaborates with Beneficial State Bank and Foundation colleagues on the sponsorship program to amplify transformative social and environmental work. Justin is passionate about supporting community-led solutions and movements towards collective liberation. He enjoys creating digital art, producing music, spending time with nature, and frequenting spoken word community spaces.
Pronouns: He/him
Kate Rood
Vice President, Organizational Development and Culture
Kate leads human resources, organizational development, and workplace culture initiatives for Beneficial State Foundation, and facilitates the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion employee group at Beneficial State Bank. She is passionate about using social impact businesses to change how we think about social justice in human resources and distribution of power in organizations. Kate enjoys crafting her own cards, buying stationery from local-makers, and sending mail. Follow her love of handwritten correspondence on Instagram at @snailmailcreations
Pronouns: She/her
Systems Change
Francis Janes
Industry Relations and Partnerships Director
Francis leads the foundation’s industry relations strategy and develops partnerships to advance the field of social impact banking. Francis developed a strong understanding of the social and environmental impact of values-based banking while serving in the role of Vice President for Beneficial State Bank in the Seattle marketplace. He enjoys gardening, science fiction movies, musicals and hosting gourmet dinner parties.
Pronouns: He/him
Wil Kristin
Strategic Communications Director
Wil leads Beneficial State Foundation’s Strategic Communications team, working to amplify our mission and increase participation in the beneficial banking movement. Using the power of storytelling to lower barriers to taking action is what keeps him up at night. He blends his experience in design thinking, community facilitation, social entrepreneurship, and multimedia production to uplift social movements. He enjoys bad weather and good documentaries.
Pronouns: He/him
Maria Kei Oldiges
Director of Social Impact Research and Evaluation
Maria Kei Oldiges evaluates the social and environmental impact of Beneficial State Bank. This includes refining the criteria for mission-driven lending, collecting impact data, and managing fund deployment and compliance with US Treasury grants. Maria has worked in nonprofits and public research for 11 years, addressing a diverse range of issues including suicide among LGBTQ youth, carbon trading, gender-based violence in nightclubs, and prison abolition. She loves justice, comedy, salsa dancing, and causing creative trouble.
Pronouns: She/her, they/their
Quinn Williams
Associate Director, Equitable Bank Standards Program
Quinn manages our equitable bank standards program, which includes co-development and refinement of the standards, and supports the Foundation’s overall policy advocacy. He started his career in Colorado advocating for policies that empower working families. Quinn is committed to increasing access to capital in Black communities, particularly in the South where he is from. In his free time he enjoys traveling, exploring the outdoors with friends, and eating dishes that might be too spicy for you.
Pronouns: He/him
Clean Vehicle Assistance Program
Michelle Barron
Program Associate, Outreach Lead
Michelle is a Program Associate for Beneficial State Foundation’s Clean Vehicle Assistance Program. She is passionate about serving environmentally and economically distressed communities, and is invested in the well-being of local communities and the environment. She feels most at home when she’s surrounded by nature and enjoys experimenting with plant-based recipes. She spends her free time training for her next long-distance run or stretching into the next yoga pose.
For inquiries about our Clean Vehicle Assistance Program, please contact cleanvehicles@beneficialstate.org or 559-271-1957.
Pronouns: She/her
Rei Bertoldi
Data and Impact Manager
Rei creates data management systems to evaluate the impact of Beneficial State Foundation’s Clean Vehicle Assistance Program. She finds inspiration in robust data analysis methods and compassionate, proximate equity lenses that inform inclusive environmental policy. Her research includes developing predictive models to help bridge the divide in global environmental data access. Outside of work, she enjoys climbing, backpacking, reading, and playing board games.
For inquiries about our Clean Vehicle Assistance Program, please contact cleanvehicles@beneficialstate.org or 559-271-1957.
Pronouns: She/her
Daysi Escobedo
Program Associate
Daysi Escobedo is a Program Associate for the Clean Vehicle Assistance Program. Before joining Beneficial State Foundation, Daysi worked as a consumer loan servicing representative at Beneficial State Bank, assisting auto loan clients who were experiencing financial hardships. Daysi is passionate about helping others in need and is fascinated by nature and world history. In her free time, she enjoys being a mom. She also loves outdoor activities, such as playing softball.
For inquiries about our Clean Vehicle Assistance Program, please contact cleanvehicles@beneficialstate.org or 559-271-1957.
Pronouns: She/Her
Leonardo Gonzalez
Program Associate, Operations Lead
Leonardo was born and raised in Fresno County, California. He brings more than a decade of banking experience to his current role as a Program Associate for our Clean Vehicle Assistance Program. Combined personal and professional experience has afforded him opportunities to partner with and learn from people from diverse backgrounds, while empowering them in their journey to financial stability. In his spare time, Leonardo enjoys traveling and spending time exploring the outdoors with his wife and family.
For inquiries about our Clean Vehicle Assistance Program, please contact cleanvehicles@beneficialstate.org or 559-271-1957.
Pronouns: He/him
Millie Gutierrez
Senior Operations Manager
Millie oversees customer service and operations for Beneficial State Foundation’s Clean Vehicle Assistance Program. With 15 years of experience working in banking and consumer lending, she is passionate about making clean vehicles accessible and affordable, and building a better banking system rooted in environmental sustainability and social justice. She enjoys reading, attending rock concerts, and taking long walks with her dog, Bailey.
For inquiries about our Clean Vehicle Assistance Program, please contact cleanvehicles@beneficialstate.org or 559-271-1957.
Pronouns: She/her
Benjamin Guzman
Program Associate
Born in San Francisco, California, Benjamin’s parents raised him to always follow the Golden Rule, “treat others the way you would want to be treated”. As a Program Associate for the Clean Vehicle Assistance Program, Benjamin handles inquiries and processes applications. Prior to joining the foundation, Benjamin worked in lending for a local credit union, where he established a reputation for providing outstanding customer service. Outside of the office Benjamin loves spending time with this family, friends, and pets.
For inquiries about our Clean Vehicle Assistance Program, please contact cleanvehicles@beneficialstate.org or 559-271-1957.
Pronouns: He/him
Claire Halverson
Operations Manager
Claire provides support to participants of the foundation’s Clean Vehicle Assistance Program, and offers specialized support for participating car dealerships. She is passionate about providing financial literacy to help end generational cycles of financial misinformation. Claire enjoys cooking new foods and experiencing different culinary cultures. She also loves watching new movies and TV shows across all genres.
For inquiries about our Clean Vehicle Assistance Program, please contact cleanvehicles@beneficialstate.org or 559-271-1957.
Pronouns: She/her
Elsie Howard
Program Associate, Operations Lead
Elsie assists participants with applying and qualifying for Beneficial State Foundation’s Clean Vehicle Assistance Program. She acts as liaison between the program, car dealerships, Beneficial State Bank, and other community partners. With a long history of working in finance, Elsie is passionate about consumer rights and equitable banking. She is proud to be a part of a team that’s dedicated to furthering the vision of a banking industry that is fair to those with the least bargaining power.
For inquiries about our Clean Vehicle Assistance Program, please contact cleanvehicles@beneficialstate.org or 559-271-1957.
Pronouns: She/her
Tiffany Lara
Program Associate, Operations Lead
Tiffany assists participants of the Clean Vehicle Assistance Program in the process of receiving grants for their clean vehicle purchase. She is passionate about working with underserved communities, locally and around the world, and has a deep passion for environmental conservation and helping improve our planet’s well-being. For fun, she enjoys traveling, exploring the outdoors, searching for her next music concert, and listening to her favorite true crime podcast.
For inquiries about our Clean Vehicle Assistance Program, please contact cleanvehicles@beneficialstate.org or 559-271-1957.
Pronouns: She/her
Adolfo Lemus
Program Associate
Adolfo is a Program Associate with the Clean Vehicle Assistance Program. He assists program participants with their clean air vehicle purchasing process. Growing up, he witnessed the disproportionate impact systems have had on certain neighborhoods, often across racial and class lines. This motivated him to pursue a sociology degree at CSU Fresno and an internship for the National Science Foundation. In his free time, he enjoys aquascaping, camping, exploring new cities, and riding bikes.
For inquiries about our Clean Vehicle Assistance Program, please contact cleanvehicles@beneficialstate.org or 559-271-1957.
Pronouns: He/him
Flor Lorenzo
Policy and Communications Associate
Flor is responsible for the Clean Vehicle Assistance Program’s content management, social media strategy, and stakeholder engagement. She is passionate about all things related to economic empowerment and community-wealth building. Flor loves discussions about building political and economic power for low-income communities and communities of color. During her free time, you can find her outdoors playing basketball, dancing, or drinking boba.
For inquiries about our Clean Vehicle Assistance Program, please contact cleanvehicles@beneficialstate.org or 559-271-1957.
Pronouns: She/her
Ana Munoz
Program Associate
As a Program Associate for Beneficial State Foundation’s Clean Vehicle Assistance Program, Ana assists California residents with their grant application process and clean air vehicle purchases. Bringing more than ten years of customer service experience, Ana is passionate about serving her community and helping build a healthier environment. In her spare time, Ana enjoys going to family gatherings, traveling, and discovering delicious restaurants.
For inquiries about our Clean Vehicle Assistance Program, please contact cleanvehicles@beneficialstate.org or 559-271-1957.
Pronouns: She/her
German Prado
Operations Manager
Born and raised in the Central Valley, German knows first-hand the richness of living in low-income, multicultural communities. As a Program Associate for the Clean Vehicle Assistance Program, German handles income verification for applicants. Prior to joining the Foundation, German worked as a Consumer Loan Servicing Representative at Beneficial State Bank, where he established a reputation for providing exceptional customer service. In his free time, he rescues, rehabilitates, and finds loving homes for dogs.
For inquiries about our Clean Vehicle Assistance Program, please contact cleanvehicles@beneficialstate.org or 559-271-1957.
Pronouns: He/him
Armida Rivas
Program Associate
As a Program Associate for the Clean Vehicle Assistance Program, Armida assists participants with their grant application process and clean vehicle purchase. She has a passion for helping people and serving historically marginalized communities. She enjoys learning about social justice and sharing what she learns with other people. In her free time, Armida enjoys exploring the outdoors, concerts, and sports games.
For inquiries about our Clean Vehicle Assistance Program, please contact cleanvehicles@beneficialstate.org or 559-271-1957.
Pronouns: She/Her
Jessica Saechao
Program Associate, Lead Trainer
Jessica is a Lead Trainer for Beneficial State Foundation’s Clean Vehicle Assistance Program. As a trainer, she provides new members of the team with the skills and resources that they need to be successful. Born and raised in Modesto, California, Jessica is passionate about serving communities throughout the Central Valley and teaching others new skills. She enjoys crafting, traveling, swimming, and caring for her plants and dog.
For inquiries about our Clean Vehicle Assistance Program, please contact cleanvehicles@beneficialstate.org or 559-271-1957.
Pronouns: She/her
Rodrigo Sandoval
Operations Director
Rodrigo leads operations and development for the Clean Vehicle Assistance Program administered by Beneficial State Foundation. Born and raised in the Central Valley, he is passionate about supporting his community, empowering low-income households, and continuing to grow the Clean Vehicle Assistance Program. He enjoys spending time with his family, tossing the ball with his dog, and playing mechanic in his garage.
For inquiries about our Clean Vehicle Assistance Program, please contact cleanvehicles@beneficialstate.org or 559-271-1957.
Pronouns: He/him
Jazmin Martinez Soria
Program Associate
Jazmin is a Program Associate for Beneficial State Foundation’s Clean Vehicle Assistance Program. Prior to joining the Foundation, Jazmin worked as a Consumer Loan Servicing Representative at Beneficial State Bank. She is passionate about self-development and enjoys learning new skills or finding new hobbies, such as couponing. In her spare time, Jazmin likes traveling with family, spending time outdoors, and watching 20/20 and Dateline.
For inquiries about our Clean Vehicle Assistance Program, please contact cleanvehicles@beneficialstate.org or 559-271-1957.
Pronouns: She/Her
Jessica Tavarez
Program Associate
Jessica is a Program Associate for Beneficial State Foundation’s Clean Vehicle Assistance Program. Born and raised in the Central Valley, she is the daughter of farm laborers who started their own business, and showed her the values of hard work, dedication, and giving back to the community she came from. In her free time, Jessica enjoys embarking on spontaneous road trips, attending dance competitions, and spending time with her family and friends.
For inquiries about our Clean Vehicle Assistance Program, please contact cleanvehicles@beneficialstate.org or 559-271-1957.
Pronouns: She/her
Jhana Valentine
Program Director
Jhana supports the Clean Vehicle Assistance Program team by leading program implementation, managing partnerships, and guiding strategic planning and evaluation. Jhana envisions an equitable, effective, and clean transportation system that enhances well-being and connection for everyone, and especially working-class and marginalized people. Working towards this vision, working with families directly, and working with a great team are the key reasons Jhana shows up to work feeling positive and passionate each day.
For inquiries about our Clean Vehicle Assistance Program, please contact cleanvehicles@beneficialstate.org or 559-271-1957.
Pronouns: She/her
Priscila Villanueva-Vasquez
Program Associate
As a Program Associate for the Clean Vehicle Assistance Program, Priscila assists program participants with their clean air vehicle purchasing process. She moved to the US when she was nine and has lived in the Central San Joaquin Valley for more than 20 years. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, trying new wines, watching British crime dramas, and helping menstruators in her community menstruate with dignity.
For inquiries about our Clean Vehicle Assistance Program, please contact cleanvehicles@beneficialstate.org or 559-271-1957.
Pronouns: She/her
Our board
Elmy Bermejo
President, San Francisco Commission on the Environment
Elmy Bermejo has been a senior government official with more than 25 years of experience in executive level management, strategic planning, policy development and advocacy. She has an established successful record of collaboration with public and private stakeholders on a range of issues including workforce development, immigration, paid leave, minimum wage, discrimination in pay, disaster relief, small business and healthcare. She has deep relationships with Congress, the Executive Branch, federal, state and local government. Elmy has a passion for building and strengthening relationships while assisting people and organizations attain their goals.
On January 4, 2010 Elmy was appointed by President Barack Obama to serve at the US Department of Labor as the Director of Intergovernmental Affairs and in 2014 was appointed as the West Coast Regional Representative for former Labor Secretary Tom Perez.
Her public service includes working for several elected officials including Retired CA State Senators John Burton and Don Perata and former U.S.Rep. Lynn Woolsey and U.S. Rep. Mel Levine and the late U.S.Senator Alan Cranston.
Elmy is currently the President of the San Francisco Commission on the Environment, serves on the board of The Beneficial State Foundation and is an Advisory member of Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE). She is also a founding member of the Emily’s List Latina Advisory Council.
Elmy previously served on the CA Commission on the Status of Women and the Women’s Foundation of California. She is a founding member of EMERGE, an organization that trains democratic women to run for local office.
Elmy’s family owns Tommy’s Mexican Restaurant, a well-known and beloved restaurant recognized as a San Francisco institution for more than 50 years. There she gained valuable insights and sensitivity to the challenges faced by small business owners.
Angela Glover Blackwell
Founder in Residence, PolicyLink
Angela Glover Blackwell is Founder in Residence at PolicyLink, the organization she started in 1999 to advance racial and economic equity for all. Under Angela’s leadership, PolicyLink gained national prominence in the movement to use public policy to improve access and opportunity for all low-income people and communities of color, particularly in the areas of health, housing, transportation, and infrastructure. Her Radical Imagination podcast debuted in September 2019, and introduces listeners to a world of talented, creative, progressive thinkers whose vision and determination are challenging the status quo to create the change we need.
Prior to founding PolicyLink, Angela served as Senior Vice President at The Rockefeller Foundation. A lawyer by training, she gained national recognition as founder of the Urban Strategies Council. From 1977 to 1987, Angela was a partner at Public Advocates. Angela is the co-author of Uncommon Common Ground: Race and America’s Future, and she authored The Curb Cut Effect, published in the Stanford Social Innovation Review in 2017.
As a leading voice in the movement for equity in America, Angela serves on numerous boards, and she advised the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve as one of 15 members of its inaugural Community Advisory Council. She is the 2018 recipient of the John W. Gardner Leadership Award, presented by the Independent Sector, and in 2017, she received the Peter E. Haas Public Service Award from the University of California, Berkeley.
Kriss Deiglmeier
CEO, Tides Foundation
Kriss Deiglmeier, currently the CEO of Tides, has more than 20 years of senior executive experience that spans the business, social enterprise, nonprofit, academic and philanthropic sectors. She is recognized as a pioneer in the field of social innovation and has presented nationally and internationally on social innovation, social entrepreneurship, design thinking and public-private partnerships as well as guest-lectured at myriad universities around the world.
Before joining Tides, Kriss was the founding Executive Director for the Center for Social Innovation (CSI) at Stanford. She established CSI as a global leader in the emerging social innovation field. Kriss worked as an Advisor to the Stanford Institute for Innovation in Developing Economies while living in Myanmar in 2013. In her previous role as Chief Operating Officer for Juma Ventures, Kriss helped raise the profile of the social entrepreneurship field from a niche market to mainstream.
Kriss has written and published leading thought pieces on social impact. Her most recent publication is a book chapter, “Social Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation: What’s New, and Why is it Important?” in The Real Problem Solvers. Kriss developed and taught the course, “Social Innovation through Corporate Social Responsibility” at Stanford. In Myanmar, Kriss conceived, created, and led an “Innovation in Action Lab” to equip organizations with design thinking methodologies and tools.
Kriss has served on a number of boards, and advisory groups. Kriss received her BA from the University of Washington, and her MBA from UC Berkeley.
Kriss resides in the Bay Area with her husband, two children and dog, Lucy. A favorite activity is traveling locally, nationally and internationally. She has visited over thirty-five countries with many more on her “wish to visit” list.
Mauricio L. Miller
Founder, Family Independence Initiative
Mauricio Miller founded the Family Independence Initiative (FII) in 2001, to capture the stories and data which demonstrate that low-income families, when working together, have the capacity to help themselves and help one another towards sustained upward mobility. Now working independently on the “Alternative Project”, Mauricio seeks to utilize those proof points to challenge the negative stereotype that low income families are “takers” from society. The project advocates for investing directly in family and group self-determined efforts, increasing their mobility and contributions to society.
In recognition of his unconventional approach to generating economic mobility among low-income families, Mauricio was awarded a MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship in 2012. He was appointed by President Obama to the White House Council for Community Solutions, is an Ashoka Fellow, a Prime Mover Fellow and a Purpose Prize winner among other awards. He was honored with an invitation to President Clinton’s 1999 State of the Union address, has served on bank and philanthropic boards, is a veteran and has started small businesses. He is the author of “The Alternative: Most of what you believe about poverty is wrong” among other publications.
Cynthia A Parker
President and CEO, BRIDGE Housing
Cynthia A. Parker is the President and CEO of BRIDGE Housing Corporation. She is responsible for the overall direction of BRIDGE, as well as its major affiliates such as BUILD, an investment advisor to CalPERS under the California Urban Real Estate Program, and BASS, a licensed life care provider. She joined BRIDGE Housing as President and CEO in February 2010.
Ms. Parker brings over 30 years of diverse and relevant experience to BRIDGE, most recently as Regional President for Mercy Housing and President of Intercommunity Mercy Housing.
Prior to her tenure at Mercy, she served as Senior Vice President for Seattle-Northwest Securities, a public finance firm, where she oversaw affordable housing, commercial and public facility real estate financing in five Northwest states. Previously, Ms. Parker worked for the City of Seattle, where she established the new Office of Housing, doubled the agency’s housing production and managed a $61 million biannual budget. Earlier, she served as the Executive Director of Anchorage Neighborhood Housing Services and General Manager of Portland Student Services. A former President of the National Neighborhood Housing Network and a former director of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, she has chaired the Sound Families Initiative for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. She currently serves as a director of the National Affordable Housing Trust and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle. Ms. Parker is a graduate of Portland State University.
Robert Wilkins
Board Chair
Robert A. Wilkins, Sr. is the Managing Principal of The HIIP Group Ltd., a strategic advisory firm that provides planning, marketing and organizational development services for social enterprises and not-for-profit organizations. He is the retired President and CEO of the YMCA of the East Bay [1997-2016]. Mr. Wilkins is an ordained minister and Visiting Professor of Functional Theology and Community Leadership at the American Baptist Seminary of the West at the Graduate Theological Union. He is a member of the Executive Board of Directors for SPUR and Beneficial State Bank.
Our founders
Kat Taylor
Kat Taylor works in service of restoring social, racial, gender justice, and environmental well-being for an equitable and inclusive world. She is active in a variety of social enterprises and philanthropic ventures focused on deep systems change.
Currently, Kat serves as the Co-Founder and Board Chair of Beneficial State Bank, a Community Development Financial Institution and certified B Corporation that makes banking more accessible to under-resourced communities in an economically and environmentally sustainable manner – and to change the banking system for good. Beneficial State was founded on the principle that banks should be most useful to their clients, not their shareholders. Therefore, Kat does not own the Bank; instead, it is wholly owned by nonprofits with the mandate to redistribute excess funds to the Bank’s communities.
Kat is also a Founding Director of TomKat Ranch Educational Foundation (TKREF), which is dedicated to inspiring a sustainable food system through ranching, training, tours, research, and school food and garden programs. TKREF owns the social enterprise LeftCoast GrassFed, humanely raising cattle and other livestock for the benefit of healthy soils.
Kat proudly served or continues to serve on the following boards and advisory bodies: Beneficial State Bank, Beneficial State Foundation, Central Kitchen Advisory Board (co-Chair) for the Oakland Unified School District, Community Development Bankers Association, Center for Rural Enterprise and Environmental Justice, Ecotrust, Evrnu, Forager, Good Samaritan Family Resource Center, Harvard Board of Overseer, KQED, NextGen Policy (Board Chair), Propublica, TomKat Ranch Educational Foundation (Chair), UC Davis Agricultural Sustainability Institute External Advisory Board, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, and many more.
She graduated from Harvard College and earned a JD/MBA from Stanford University.
Tom Steyer
Tom Steyer stepped down as head of his investment firm in 2012 to dedicate all his time to philanthropy and political action focused on making America more just by putting the people, not the corporations, in charge of our democracy. Tom, a self-made billionaire, and his wife, Kathryn Taylor, known as “Kat,” were among the first to sign the Giving Pledge — a commitment to give away the bulk of their personal fortune during their lifetimes.
In 2013, he founded NextGen America, a nonprofit group that combats climate change, promotes social justice and increases participation in our democracy through voter registration and grassroots organizing. In 2017, Tom became the first major Democrat to rally millions of Americans with a public call to impeach Donald Trump.
In the recent midterms, Tom led the nation’s largest voter-turnout effort. NextGen organizers worked hundreds of college campuses and city neighborhoods to increase voting by youth, people of color, workers and other underrepresented groups. Need to Impeach mobilized millions of its petition signers. All these voters contributed to Democratic wins that took back the House, won Senate seats and governorships, and captured state legislatures and local races.
“We need the broadest democracy possible,” Tom says, “to take back our government from the corporations that now control it and have stolen the rights of everyday Americans.” Only a broad-based grassroots movement can restore power, fairness and prosperity to the people,” he says. Tom has laid out his vision for putting the people in charge of our democracy with a “21st century bill of rights” — a new set of 5 Rights — that every American must have.
Across the country and in his home state of California, Tom has shown repeatedly that going directly to the people and raising their voices is the way to beat entrenched corporate interests and win fights for fairness. He helped beat big oil to protect California’s landmark clean-air laws and he followed that up with wins for clean energy in Michigan and Nevada. He helped close a massive corporate tax loophole to generate at least $1.7 billion for public schools. He helped beat big tobacco companies and forced them to pay their share of healthcare costs for the harm their products have caused.
Tom and his wife have devoted hours of their time and donated tens of millions of dollars to charitable projects that advance education, renewable energy, clean air and water, healthy food, sustainable agriculture, self-sustaining communities and more. Their charitable foundation powered the birth of “California Food for California Kids,” a program that now serves more than 300 million healthy meals yearly to the state’s school kids using natural food from California farms.
Another charitable project is Beneficial State Bank, which since 2007 has loaned money affordably to working people, small businesses and nonprofit community projects shut out by regular banks. Tom and Kat have given more than $120 million to building the bank, which reinvests any profits back into the communities it serves. Their support of the bank is ongoing.
Tom grew up in New York City, the youngest of three brothers. His father, Roy, interrupted his law career to join the Navy and serve on the legal team that prosecuted Nazi war criminals at Nuremberg. His mother, Marnie, was a journalist and teacher who taught in the city schools and volunteered to tutor prisoners in a large city jail. Tom’s parents taught him that action always speaks louder than words.
Tom graduated from Yale and earned his MBA at Stanford. Working on Wall Street was not for him, so he moved to San Francisco in 1986 and started his own small investment firm. Backed by two seasoned investors, Tom started managing the new fund, which began with $9 million in investments. Over the years, Tom achieved double-digit returns for his investors — mostly universities, foundations and individuals. His success built the firm to $36 billion in investments at the fund’s peak.
Tom is 62. He and Kat have four grown children. San Francisco has been their home since 1986.
Our values
