Angela Ryan, who resigned as executive director of Sonoma Valley Education Foundation in June 2024, was hired this month to serve as the first full-time staff leader of Sonoma Valley Catalyst Fund.
The fund, which was created in 2020, mobilizes local philanthropic and community-based organizations as they work to address urgent, emergent and chronic challenges.
Before Ryan was hired, Catalyst’s only staff member was Barbara Wells, who provided operations support in a limited part-time role.
Ryan has already begun to serve in the position, which is being funded by a special gift from a donor.
“I announced my resignation from the Sonoma Valley Education Foundation in April without a new job lined up because I wanted the chance to take a breather and because I wanted to be able to put my name ‘out there’ in case there were organizations looking for a candidate that fit my profile,” Ryan said. “At it turned out, the all-volunteer team at Catalyst had been considering the need for a staff leader for some time.
“Turns out, it was serendipity. After spending time traveling around the country and visiting my in-laws in Maryland, I got a call from Catalyst in July with an offer I couldn’t refuse, asking me to become their first full-time staff leader.”
Katherine Fulton — who, along with Dub Hay, serve as the co-chairs of Catalyst — said Ryan is a great fit for the new position.
“Angela’s commitment to new forms of collaboration and increased equity, in a greatly challenged Valley and nonprofit sector, are closely aligned with Catalyst’s purposes,” Fulton said in a news release. “For the past four years, Catalyst has been led almost entirely by volunteers. This is not a sustainable strategy for the long run — and our donors have begun to inquire about our plans.”
Ryan feels that she is well suited to the position because of her deep knowledge of Sonoma Valley, collaborative work to tackle complex problems, family with the nonprofit and social service landscape and relationships with the key players.
“I have leadership experience that can help make an impact,” she said. “I am well aware of the tremendous assets that exist in our community, and I am familiar with the obstacles and needs that prevent progress.”
Catalyst is a fund of Community Foundation Sonoma County, the area’s main hub for philanthropy. During the next year, she will be an employee of the foundation and will work to advance the work of both Catalyst and the foundation, splitting time between them and working on strategy and the continued evolution of a partnership model.
“To start, my primary undertaking will be to design a renewed partnership model between Catalyst and the community foundation to better leverage and align the philanthropic resources of Sonoma Valley for greater impact and effect,” Ryan said. “I will also provide leadership for Catalyst operations, coordinate the work of Catalyst’s volunteer committees and take on special projects for both Catalyst and the community foundation.”
Ryan said that by forging a deeper partnership with the foundation, Catalyst can address issues as regional problems, which means partnering more effectively with agencies and organizations outside the Valley.
“With my dual role, we look forward to building deeper relationships across the county through various efforts and initiatives, now with greater representation of the Valley at that level,” she said.
Since its inception, Catalyst has raised and deployed $2.7 million in Sonoma Valley through a variety of targeted grant-making programs. Fundraising will be an important part of Ryan’s job.
“This is unbelievably generous community, and Catalyst has a very unique role to play in asking donors for the extra gift on top of what they are already giving directly to the many deserving organizations in town,” she said. “Our strategic grant-making is designed to fill gaps and address needs that no one organization or donor can match on their own.
“Donors are motivated by the compelling examples that Catalyst has demonstrated and the clear need for my role as we confront the next set of challenges ahead.”
Catalyst works with the foundation and in partnership with donors and community organizations to accomplish its mission.
“Catalyst already has a four-year track record as volunteer-run organization providing this kind of support and leadership to the Sonoma Valley community,” Ryan said. “Their efforts have been critical in the pandemic and beyond, mobilizing vaccine clinics, coordinating food distribution and sustaining front-line organizations serving youth, seniors and everyone in between.”
Sonoma Valley continues to face many complex issues, including food insecurity, affordable housing, an aging population, mental health, child care and education.
“And on top of that, there is the quality of life and character of the Valley that must be preserved,” Ryan said. “The work of Catalyst will need to be focused and tactical, and the more support and philanthropic resources we can attract, the more we can do. Catalyst is well on the way to becoming a permanent resource for the Valley. My position is an important next step toward this goal.”
Ryan grew up in Sonoma Valley and graduated from Sonoma Valley High School. She went on to receive a bachelor’s degree in history and English from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo in 2003 and a doctorate in history from The Ohio State University in 2010.
She then returned to Sonoma Valley and served in several leadership positions — including senior administrative assistant for Teen Services Sonoma, consultant for Next Generation Fundraising in Larkspur, executive director of Petaluma Museum and board member for Impact100 Sonoma.
Ryan next worked for Sonoma Valley Education Foundation for five years, serving as director of programs and grants in 2019 and 2020 and executive director from 2021 to 2024.
She is thrilled with her new position.
“When I got the call from Catalyst in July, it felt like a dream,” Ryan said. “I had never imagined that a position so perfect for me could exist. The fact that Catalyst and the community foundation leadership feel the same is beyond belief.
“I am honored and humble to be asked to serve in this role, continuing to work alongside the colleagues and friends I have grown to admire so much while also expanding the reach to tap into resources at the community foundation and across the county. It’s a dream come true!”
Reach the reporter, Dan Johnson, at daniel.johnson@sonomanews.com.
