Jennifer S. Vanica
Partner, VanicaCummings
Community Change Consulting
13756 Quinton Road, San Diego, CA 92129
619-840-0640
jennifervanica@gmail.com
www.VanicaCummings.com
Profile
- Senior Fellow at the Aspen Institute's Roundtable on Community Change
- Research Affiliate with the Community Innovators Lab, Department of Urban Studies and Planning, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
- Fifteen-year track record of organizing, testing, operationalizing and leading resident-centered, comprehensive community change
- Twenty years of non-profit strengthening in health, education, philanthropy, and child welfare, leading multi-million dollar campaigns and public-private partnerships
- Passionate advocate for large-scale citizen action and resident voice in community development and for promoting the need for greater innovation in the roles philanthropy can play in supporting social change
- Led development of The Village at Market Creek, 2011 gold-designated Catalyst Project for the State of California
- Developed first Community Development IPO for resident ownership of commercial project in formerly-disinvested neighborhood
Education
Wittenberg University, Springfield, Ohio
Bachelor of Arts, English, 1976
Exeter University, Exeter, England
Semester, British Literature, 1975
Honorary Degree
Wittenberg University, Springfield, Ohio
Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, 2012
Professional Appointments
Senior Fellow, Aspen Institute, Roundtable on Community Change (June 2012 to present)
Research Affiliate, Community Innovators Lab, Department of Urban Studies and Planning, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (June 2012 to present)
Professional Experience
Partner, VanicaCummings Community Change Consulting— 2011 to present
Writing, speaking and consulting on resident-centered, comprehensive community change, non-profit strengthening, philanthropy, participatory strategic planning, resource development, and neighborhood revitalization.
President & CEO, Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation and the Jacobs Family Foundation — 1995-2011
Designed and led the Foundation’s grantmaking and technical assistance, forging innovative funder/grantee partnerships to strengthen non-profit organizational capacity with partners ranging from small grassroots organizations, to international NGOs. Developed the concept and strategic plan that led to the launching of the Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation, an operating foundation headquartered in San Diego's southeastern neighborhoods dedicated to community building and the resident ownership of change. Led one of the nation’s pioneering neighborhood revitalization projects -- The Village at Market Creek, a connected network of cultural, commercial, and residential projects that are community planned, designed, built, serviced, managed, and owned by teams of resident stakeholders.
Partner, VanicaCummings and Associates— 1991-1995
Worked with wide range of non-profit organizations, providing strategic planning and capital campaign consulting, including La Jolla Country Day School, Rancho Bernardo Library, the YWCA, Home Start, San Diego Center for Children, and the San Diego Council of Community Clinics.
Executive Director, Child Abuse Prevention Foundation — 1988 - 1991
Led fundraising and grantmaking organization focused on county-wide services for youth and children. Advocated for better conditions for children held in San Diego County's emergency shelter and led a $17 million public-private campaign to build a new 130-bed state-of-the-art emergency shelter now known as the Polinsky Children’s Center.
Managing Director, Sharp Hospitals Foundation — 1983 - 1988
Part of start-up team for the healthcare foundation. During six-year tenure, raised needed funds for a cancer center, intensive care unit, and the women’s hospital.
Assistant Director of Special Campaigns, Ohio State University — 1981 - 1983
Led university fundraising for College of the Arts, College of Humanities, and the 26 University Libraries. Was one of five members of a campaign team that structured and implemented a $250 million campaign.
Director of the Annual Fund, Wittenberg University — 1976 - 1981
Led annual fund component of the University Advancement Office and participated as a team member for $16 million campaign for new library and health/physical education facilities.
Philanthropic and Volunteer Leadership
San Diego Grantmakers, Co-chaired start-up Board of Directors, creating dues structure, initiating membership recruitment, and incorporating San Diego’s regional association of grantmakers (1996-1999); Served on Advisory Board (2007-2012)
San Diego Neighborhood Funders, Led formation of San Diego’s first cross-disciplinary, neighborhood-focused funders’ collaborative. Managed collaborative and served as fiscal agent for 11 of the first 13 years of its history (1998 - 2011)
Association of Fundraising Professionals (formerly National Association of Fund Raising Executives, Served on the Board of Directors and chaired the Education Committee (1990-1994)
Ohio Women, Inc., Served on the Board of Directors for newly-incorporated organization initiated as the Governor’s Task Force on the Status of Women; advocated for the tax on the marriage license as a sustainable funding mechanism for domestic violence shelters in Ohio (1982-1983)
Project Woman, Served on the start-up Board of Directors, initiating the first rape crisis line and domestic violence shelter and services for women in the Springfield, OH (1976-1979)
Awards And Honors
James Irvine Foundation Leadership Award (2009)
Distinguished Alumni Award, Wittenberg University (2003)
Distinguished Support Award, Latino Builders, with special recognition from California
Governor Gray Davis (2000)
Outstanding Service Award, San Diego Child Abuse Coordinating Council (1991)
Development Executive of the Year, National Society of Fund Raising Executives, San
Diego (1991)
Tribute to Women in Industry Award for Sharp HealthCare, YWCA of San Diego (1986)
Awards for Projects and Organizations Led
Gold-Designated Catalyst Project, California Sustainable Strategies Pilot Program, California Department of Housing and Community Development, for The Village at Market Creek (2011)
First Place Education Project Award, The San Diego American Planning Association, for The Village at Market Creek Design and Planning Workshops (2011)
Betty Peabody Award, Crime Stoppers, for helping law enforcement fight crime and promote public safety, presented to Project Safe Way, a team of the Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation (2011)
Community Vision Award, San Diego Architectural Foundation, for The Village at Market Creek (2010)
Outstanding Brownfield Transformation, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), for Market Creek Plaza (2009)
Excellence in Economic Development - Neighborhood Initiatives, International Economic Development Council (IEDC), for The Village at Market Creek (2009)
Excellence in Economic Development - Real Estate Development & Reuse, International Economic Development Council (IEDC), for Market Creek Plaza (2009)
Award of Merit, American Society of Civil Engineers, San Diego Section, for the Joe & Vi Jacobs Center (2009)
ULI Social Equity Award, Urban Land Institute (ULI), San Diego/Tijuana, for Market Creek Plaza (2008)
Project of the Year Award, American Public Works Association, San Diego & Imperial Counties Chapter, for the Chollas Creek Encanto Tributary Project (2008)
Orchid Award, San Diego Architectural Foundation, for the Chollas Creek Encanto Tributary Project (2008)
Critical Impact Award for innovative and bold solutions to enhance the public good, Council on Foundations, for the Jacobs Family Foundation (2007)
ULI Awards of Excellence, Finalist, Urban Land Institute (National), for Market Creek Plaza (2007)
Dealmaker of the Year Award, Point Loma Nazarene University, for the Community Development Initial Public Offering (2007)
Asset Creation Award, The California Asset Policy Initiative, for the Ownership Design Team for Market Creek Plaza (2005)
Corporate Philanthropy Award, National Coalition of 100 Black Women, for the Jacobs Family Foundation (2004)
Helios Award of Excellence, International Association of Business Communicators of Orange County, for the video series documenting the “Community Faces” Unsung Heroes Art Project on the Food 4 Less Grocery (2003)
Peace Maker Award, San Diego Mediation Center, for the Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation Writerz Blok Graffiti Art Program (2003)
Engineering Excellence Honor Award, Construction Engineering and Land Surveyors of California, for Market Creek Plaza’s Gateway Underpass (2001)
Concrete Structure/Bridge Project of the Year, American Concrete Institute, San Diego/International Chapter (2001)
Award of Merit, American Society of Civil Engineers, San Diego Section, for Market Creek Plaza’s Gateway Underpass (2000)
Developer of the Year, MultiCultural Contractors Group, for the Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation (2000)
Corporate Service Award, The Earl B. Gilliam Bar Association, for the Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation (2000)
Philanthropic Organization of the Year, Association of Fund Raising Professionals, San Diego Chapter, for the Jacobs Family Foundation (1999)
Contractor of the Year, MultiCultural Contractors Group, for the Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation (1999)
Presentations at Major Convenings and Participation in Related Conference Documents
“Building Neighborhoods of Opportunity: White House Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative”, Panel/Speaker, National Convening Domestic Policy Team, June 2011; Report July 2011
“The Challenges to Infrastructure Financing for a Transit-Oriented Village in One of San Diego’s Older Urban Neighborhoods,” Speaker/Report/Summit Participant, Urban Land Institute (ULI) Technical Assistance Program, April 2010
“Responsible Redevelopment: Summary Report of a Consultative Session,” The Annie E. Casey Foundation, Panel/Speaker, Convening Presenter/Report February 2010
“Improving the Outcomes of Place-Based Initiatives,” Naomi Cytron, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, Community Investments, Panel/Speaker, Convening Presenter/Report Spring 2010
“From Brownfields to Community Assets,” Speaker, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) National Brownfields Conference, November 2009
“Harnessing the Markets for Social Change: A Case Study of the Community Development IPO,” Speaker, Association of American Law Schools, January 2009
“Building Healthy Communities,” Speaker, National Association of Health Professionals, December 2008
“Toward the Resident Ownership of Neighborhood Change,” Mikael Karlstrom, Chapin Hall, Center for Children, University of Chicago, Embedded Funders Learning Community, Panel and Case Study, August 2008
“Achieving Impact and Sustainability through Market-Based Approaches,” Community Wealth Ventures, Panel/Speaker, Report October 2007
“Building Trust, Growing Jobs, Affirming Identity,” Speaker, Summit titled: “Equitable Development and Mixed Income Communities: Best Practices and Scenarios,” University of California, Berkeley, August 2006
“Financing Change: The Social and Economic Costs of Market Creek Plaza,” Report by Steve Kodeke with Jennifer Vanica, Rockefeller Foundation, Presenter, Convening in Bellagio, Italy, September 2004
Major Speeches
Commencement Keynote Address, 167th Commencement Exercises, Class of 2012, Wittenberg University, May 2012
“Promoting Resident Vision and Voice in Comprehensive Community Change ”, Speaker, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Presentation to Domestic Policy Team, November 2011
“Capacity Building and Community Change,” Speaker, Federal Reserve of San Francisco, Fresno, July 2009
“Women Who Mean Business Awards,” Keynote Speaker, October 2006
“Investing in Social and Economic Value: Aligning Purpose and Potential,” Speaker, Stanford University, Center for Social Innovation, May 2003
Select Speeches and Presentations
“Owning Change: A Case Study of Market Creek Plaza,” Presenter/Speaker, Center for Urban Economics and Design at the University of California, San Diego, May 23, 2012
“A Inside Look at San Diego’s Gold-Level Catalyst Community for the State of California,” Presenter/Speaker, San Diego Association of Governments Regional Planning Committee, January 2011
“Foundation Leadership and Community Change,” Speaker/Discussion Leader, Council on Foundations, Career Pathways Leadership Program, Class of 2010-2011
“Lessons of the Marketplace,” Speaker, Black Business Boot Camp, October 2010
“Toward the Resident Ownership of Neighborhood Change,” Speaker, Citizens Coordinate for Century 3 Breakfast Dialogue, February 2010
“Building Vibrant Communities: Changing the Dynamics of Race and Place,” Guest Lecturer, Wittenberg University, Center for Civic Engagement, October 2009
“Building Assets While Rebuilding Community,” Speaker/Panelist, Annie E. Casey Foundation Consultative Session on Wealth Building Strategies, July 2009
“Leadership and Social Change: Big Things Small Foundations Can Do Together,” Speaker, Association of Small Foundations, March 2009
“Opening Up Access to Investment and Ownership,” Speaker/Panel Participant, United African American Ministerial Action Council Summit, February 2009
“Reflections on Philanthropy and Social Injustice,” Speaker, Martin Luther King, Jr. Educators’ Breakfast, January 2009
“Anchoring Change,” Keynote Speaker, Annual Banquet, ACCION New Mexico, November 2008
“Inspiring People to Create Change,” Speaker, California Grantmakers in the Arts, September 2008
Articles Published
Jennifer Vanica, “High Engagement Philanthropy,” Initiatives, Institute for Cultural Affairs, Summer 2000
Jennifer Vanica, “Participatory Fund Raising Planning,” Initiatives, Institute for Cultural Affairs, Winter 1996
Work Referenced in Books, Journals, Case Studies, and Articles
Thinking Comprehensively about Education: Spaces of Educative Possibility and their Implications for Policy, Ezekiel J. Dixon-Roman and Edmund W. Gordon, Routledge, 2012
Do More Than Give: The Six Practices of Donors Who Change the World, Leslie R. Crutchfield, John V. Kania and Mark R. Kramer, Wiley, John & Sons, Incorporated, Jossey-Bass, 2011
Voices from the Field III: Lessons and Challenges from Two Decades of Community Change Efforts, The Aspen Institute, Roundtable on Community Change, 2010, Panelist/Speaker for Book Launch, November 2010
“Transforming Blight into a Community Asset: The Story of Market Creek Plaza”, Tracey Bryan, The IEDC Economic Development Journal, Winter 2010
Change Philanthropy: Candid Stories of Foundation’s Maximizing Results Through Social Justice, Alicia Epstein Korten, Center for Community Change, Jossey-Bass, 2009
“Building Vibrant Communities: Community Benefits of Land Revitalization,” Case Study U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 2009
“Leading Change: Jennifer Vanica is Transforming the National Conversation About Community Development,” Gabrielle Antoniadis, Wittenberg Today, November 2009
“Toward the Resident Ownership of Neighborhood Change,” Mikael Karlstrom, Chapin Hall, Center for Children at the University of Chicago, Embedded Funders Learning Community, August 2008
“The People’s IPO,” Anne Stuhldreher, Stanford Social Innovation Review, Winter 2007
“Cultural Authenticity and Urban Economic Development,” James H. Carr and Lisa J. Servon, Milano The New School for Management and Urban Policy, August 2006
“Building Assets While Building Communities: Expanding Savings & Investment Opportunities for Low-Income Bay Area Residents,” Heather McCulloch, February 2006
“Polishing Up the Diamond: How did the Jacobs Foundation Help Revitalize a Neighborhood? By Listening to its Residents,” Anne Stuhldreher, Stanford Social Innovation Review, Spring 2005
Moving Forward While Staying in Place: Embedded Funders and Community Change”, Aaron Sojourner, Prudence Brown, Robert Chaskin, Ralph Hamilton, Leila Fiester, Harold Richman, Chapin Hall Center for Children at the University of Chicago, October 2004
“Strategic Investment to Promote Smarter Growth and Build More Livable Communities: A Guide for Funders,” Julie Parzen, Funders’ Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities, March 2004
“Market Creek Plaza: Toward the Resident Ownership of Neighborhood Change,” Lisa Robinson, PolicyLink Case Study, April 2002
“Calculating Compassion,” Kathleen Woodward, Indiana Law Journal, Symposium: Law, Morality, and Popular Culture in the Public Sphere, Spring 2002.
“Models and Infrastructure: Commercial Real Estate Development,” Heather McCulloch and Lisa Robinson, Sharing the Wealth: Resident Ownership Mechanisms, Case Study, PolicyLink, 2001
Writing and Teaching Interests
- Leadership in Comprehensive Community Change
- Building a Culture of Change in Disinvested Communities
- The Role of Large-Scale Civic Action in Community Transformation
- Building Ownership of Assets While Rebuilding Communities
- New Roles for Philanthropy in Advancing Social Change
- Women in Leadership
- Rapid Fundraising Planning for Grassroots Groups