Elisa de la Vara, retired, Chief Community Officer and a member of the executive management team at the Arizona Community Foundation (ACF). As CCO Elisa oversaw the Foundation’s engagements and relationships with Arizona’s diverse communities. Her leadership and oversight responsibilities included the grants management division, all major community initiatives including the Community Impact Loan Fund (impact investing), affordable housing fund, immigration and border philanthropy, and Philanthropy for All initiatives. Elisa also had oversight of the Foundation’s statewide Affiliate system, including nine professional staff members who live and work in ACF’s offices in Cochise, Flagstaff, Sedona, Yavapai County and Yuma.

When Elisa joined ACF as Senior Director of Philanthropic Services – Community Initiatives in 2015, she brought four decades of experience in community development and in the nonprofit, government and commercial sectors, most recently having managed the daily operations of Congressman Pastor’s District 7 Office for seven years until the Congressman’s retirement.

Elisa’s experience in the private sector includes positions with local enterprises in real estate development and property management companies.  She served over a decade with Fannie Mae, opening its’ Phoenix office which later became a statewide Fannie Mae Center.  She held significant civic leadership roles throughout Arizona, including serving as Special Assistant to Arizona Governor Bruce Babbitt from 1983 to 1986 and later, as Comptroller for Gov. Babbitt’s 1988 national presidential campaign. She rose through the ranks at the nonprofit Chicanos Por La Causa from 1975 to 1983, ultimately serving as Executive Vice President. Elisa has served on many local and national boards and commissions and has received numerous awards and recognitions throughout her career, including the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s Distinguished Leadership Award and the Arizona Governor’s Citation for Outstanding Service to the State of Arizona. In 2007, she was inducted into Valle de Sol’s Profiles of Success Hall of Fame.