CHELSEY PIASENTIN SOUZA
DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

As the development officer, Chelsey is responsible for connecting with prospective donors and providing information about charitable funds.  She works with individuals and families with respect to donor advised funds, supporting foundations and other philanthropic vehicles at Silicon Valley Community Foundation. 

Before joining Silicon Valley Community Foundation, Chelsey served as the director of development at the Family Giving Tree.  Under her direction, the Family Giving Tree increased their annual revenue by 14 percent over a 12-month period.  Before raising funds to help fulfill the wishes and dreams of low-income children, Chelsey was the development manager at Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo counties for five years, where she was responsible for raising $3.5 million dollars annually.

Chelsey currently serves on the board of the Association of Fundraising Professionals Silicon Valley Chapter as vice president-elect of programs and has been an active member since 2001.  She was co-chair of AFP Silicon Valley Chapter’s National Philanthropy Day in 2005.  Chelsey graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Italian from California State University at Chico and launched her career in sales at Envive Corporation, where she remained until she entered the nonprofit sector in 2001.  She lives in the Cambrian neighborhood of San José with her husband and two-year-old son.