Óscar Chávez

Óscar Chávez possesses a deep passion for building strong and resilient communities, focusing on enhancing the lives of vulnerable individuals in Sonoma County. With over 25 years of experience as a community leader, Óscar demonstrates a profound understanding of Sonoma County and a proven ability to convene diverse groups to find solutions to local issues.

As President and CEO of Community Foundation Sonoma County, Óscar spearheads the foundation's community leadership initiatives, such as the Sonoma County Resilience Fund. This fund has granted more than $17 million for disaster relief since 2017, addressing significant events like wildfires and the coronavirus pandemic. Beyond disaster response, Community Foundation Sonoma County offers local expertise and legacy inspiration and planning to Sonoma County’s most generous donors, guiding them to become more impactful philanthropists.

Throughout his extensive career in community leadership, Óscar has held notable positions including a decade at the Sonoma County Department of Human Services as Assistant Director, and six years as the Executive Director for Community Action Partnership Sonoma County.
As a first-generation Mexican-American who hails from California’s Central Valley, Óscar earned his BA in Political Science from California State University, Bakersfield. He is also a past winner of the North Bay Business Journal’s 40 Under 40, and the Sonoma County Jefferson Award for Public Service for Excellence in Community Leadership and Civic Engagement.