Khanh Russo Named New President & CEO of Pasadena Community Foundation

The Board of Directors at the Pasadena Community Foundation announced Wednesday that following a nationwide search, Khanh Russo has been selected to serve as PCF’s  next President and CEO following the retirement of Jennifer DeVoll. Khanh currently serves as Vice  President of Policy and Innovation at the San Francisco Foundation (SFF), where he has led regional and  statewide initiatives that advanced racial equity and economic inclusion, among many other  accomplishments. Khanh will assume his new role at PCF on June 9, 2025. 

The PCF Board’s Executive Search Committee, with support from Blair Search Partners, conducted a  comprehensive search over the course of several months. The Committee selected Khanh because of his  extensive leadership in philanthropy, public policy, and community engagement, as well as his deep  commitment to building resilient, thriving communities through strategic grantmaking, collaborative  partnerships, and systems change. 

Moreover, with nationwide challenges like affordable housing, health  equity, and workforce opportunity also impacting the Greater Pasadena area, the Committee recognized  Khanh’s compelling track record of addressing those issues and many more by strategically aligning policy,  nonprofit capacity, and public and private investments. 

PCF Board Chair, Maggie Sabbag, notes that Khanh’s deep experience and evident compassion will build  upon Jennifer DeVoll’s legacy seamlessly. “Jennifer’s transformative leadership over 22 years grew the  Pasadena Community Foundation into a position of great strength and incomparable reputation. We are  confident that Khanh Russo will leverage his compelling expertise in the philanthropic and public sectors to  amplify PCF’s mission and to ensure that our organization continues to help build a thriving and connected  community. The PCF board is eager to begin working closely with Khanh and our extraordinary staff to  advance PCF’s culture, values, and impact.” 

Prior to his role with SFF, Khanh served as Director of Strategic Partnerships and Performance for San José  Mayor Sam Liccardo, where he championed civic innovation, data-informed policymaking, and public private partnerships. His background also includes philanthropic leadership roles at Cisco Systems and the  Silicon Valley Community Foundation, where he supported community-based nonprofits, fostered inclusive  economic development, and advanced arts and culture as a catalyst for social connection. 

Khanh holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Santa Clara University and a Master of Science in  Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon University. His academic and professional grounding  in governance, equity, and community development informs a leadership style centered on trust,  transparency, and long-term impact.

Khanh’s service on nonprofit boards and advisory councils spans sectors critical to Pasadena’s civic fabric,  including education, social services, the arts, and health. He has held leadership roles with organizations  such as Next City, Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County, Downtown College Prep, Santa Clara University’s  College of Arts and Sciences, and Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana (MACLA). He currently  serves as a Strategic Artificial Intelligence Program Advisor at the University of San Francisco, helping  nonprofits adapt to emerging technologies for the public good. 

“My work has always been guided by values of empathy, collaboration, and equity, and I am passionate  about creating pathways for opportunity,” Khanh notes. “Residents in the Greater Pasadena area are  known for their commitment to philanthropy, and PCF has been at the forefront of channeling that  generosity to improve the lives of Pasadenans. It will be such a privilege to work with PCF’s extended family  of community partners and donors to elevate the incredible legacy built by my predecessor, Jennifer  DeVoll, and strengthen the Foundation’s collective impact.”

Learn more at pasadenacf.org.