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KAITLIN MORRIS

Associate

Originally from rural West Virginia, Kaitlin holds a BA in Communication with a minor in Business Administration from Berea College. She has pursued professional development opportunities everywhere from the Appalachian mountains she calls home to San Francisco’s Mission District to the Big Easy and has worked for world renowned organizations like Habitat for Humanity and the International Rescue Committee. Most recently, she served as the Food Systems and Neighborhood Coordinator at Propeller in New Orleans, LA where she supported social entrepreneurs as they formalized and grew their businesses.

In 2019, Kaitlin was 1 of 14 selected for the Newman’s Own Foundation Fellowship, a post-graduate fellowship program for emerging leaders within the non-profit sector. She is also a Bonner Scholar and a recipient of the Eva Nell Whitaker Alley Award for Community Service.

When not working, you can find Kaitlin scuba diving, dancing bachata, or working at the Little Italy Famers Mercato.

DEANNA WOLF

Senior Associate

Deanna comes to SVP with a background in education, community engagement, and nonprofit program management. Prior to joining the team at SVP, Deanna worked in higher education connecting university students to meaningful engagement opportunities in the community at the University of San Diego. She has also facilitated community and volunteer programs for Casa de Amistad and Catholic Charities in San Diego. In addition, Deanna has taught at both the elementary and middle school levels in Washington, D.C. as well as in South Bay San Diego.

Deanna holds a BA from the University of San Diego in Liberal Studies with an emphasis in Latin American Culture and Spanish Language, along with a California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. She earned her MPA from The School of Public Affairs at San Diego State University.

In her free time, Deanna enjoys spending time with loved ones, usually outside. On weekends you can find her hiking San Diego’s many trails, riding her road bike, catching a yoga class, or hosting a dinner party.

SIERRA VISHER KROHA

Executive Director

Contact: Sierra@sdsvp.org

Phone: (858) 412-5331 ext. 701

Sierra Visher Kroha, a leader in the San Diego nonprofit and philanthropic community, is the current Executive Director of San Diego Social Venture Partners. SDSVP is an engaged philanthropy organization with affiliates in 40 cities across 8 countries that provides funding and pro-bono consulting to strengthen local nonprofits the community.

Before joining SVP, Sierra spent several years living in Nairobi, Kenya, helping to start, scale and then manage a national public health program with the nonprofit Deworm the World Initiative. As a result of the successful implementation of this program, 5.9 million children were dewormed annually, dramatically improving their health and educational outcomes.

A fanatic for working in nonprofits and with the interesting and passionate people that they attract, Sierra has held leadership roles in microfinance organizations, in refugee services, and business development programs in Latin America, and East Africa.

Sierra was the 2011 recipient of the Luther Gulick Scholarship for Leadership on International Issues. She co-chairs the board of the Karen Organization of San Diego, a local nonprofit supporting refugees from Myanmar.

Sierra spends weekends playing with her young daughter and toddler son, enjoying all the outdoor activities that San Diego has to offer. Sierra has a BA in International Studies from University of California, San Diego and a Master in Public Administration from New York University.

KEHILA S. MORENO

Office and Special Project Assistant

Contact: Kehila@sdsvp.org

Phone: (858) 412-5331

Kehila Moreno is passionate about uplifting local communities and advocating social and environmental justice. She is a full-time student at San Diego State University (SDSU) pursuing a degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Women’s Studies. She aspires to become an attorney and be a role model for other first-generation Latinx students.

Her dedication to help support and strengthen first-generation and low-income students has been at the heart of her educational, professional, and volunteer career. In 2018, she received support from Barrio Logan College Institute, a San Diego nonprofit organization that aims to provide resources for students to support their community as they become the first person in their family to obtain higher education.

Due to her experience, Kehila understands the positive impact nonprofits create in the lives of many and has focused her efforts on learning more about the nonprofit sector. She is a dynamic and motivated professional with a proven record of building meaningful relationships, managing projects, organizing events, and encouraging positive change.

At SDSU, she serves as Chair of the Commuter Student Board and council member of the External Relations Board. Additionally, she volunteers with Rotaract, an organization that amplifies service above self, and Movimiento Estudiantil Chicanx de Aztlán, a cultural and political organization.

ERICA HALPERN

Chief Operating Officer

Contact: Erica@sdsvp.org

Phone: (858) 412-5331 ext. 702

Erica brings her background in management, finance, communications and public service to the SVP team. Prior to relocating to San Diego, she worked for Goldman Sachs in New York, most recently as Chief Operating Officer of Investment Banking Services. She joined the management group after working on M&A and financings and was involved with business selection, staffing and internal management.

She in her third year as President of the Board of Trustees for the Del Mar Union School District where she has served since 2015. She has also been Vice President of Philanthropy for the National Charity League, San Dieguito Chapter since 2019 and is a representative on the Earl Warren Middle School Site Council. She was PTA President at Del Mar Heights School and has served as a volunteer and board member for many nonprofits.

Erica was previously the Director of Communications and Marketing for the Presidio Trust during the conversion of the Presidio of San Francisco into a self-funding national park. After college she worked in education reform at Partners in School Innovation through AmeriCorps.

She holds an MBA from Columbia Business School and a BA from the School of Journalism at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, with a double major in political science.

She and her husband Mike relocated their family from New York to Del Mar in 2011. While not busy parenting – and driving around – two daughters and a son, Erica enjoys yoga, tennis, travel and hiking Torrey Pines.