Laurel Lee-Alexander Named Vice President of Grants & Programs

The Community Foundation for Monterey County (CFMC) welcomed Laurel Lee-Alexander as its new Vice President of Grants and Programs. Lee-Alexander was most recently Director of Philanthropy at the Monterey Peninsula Foundation. As Vice President of Grants and Programs, Lee-Alexander is responsible for all the CFMC’s grant programs (nearly $10 million in 2013), as well as programs such as the Center for Nonprofit Excellence. She takes over the position from Julie Drezner, who retired in December.

“We’re very excited to welcome Laurel to this key role. She brings a strong philanthropic background and knowledge of Monterey County nonprofits,” stated Dan Baldwin, CFMC President/CEO.

I was drawn back to the Community Foundation for Monterey County because of its history of grantmaking, donor services and community leadership

-Laurel Lee-Alexander

As the Director of Philanthropy for the Monterey Peninsula Foundation (host of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am golf tournament) for the past 12 years, Laurel led the MPF’s philanthropic programs and advised nonprofits on organizational capacity. Laurel was responsible for all aspects of grantmaking, including setting strategic direction and grantmaking policies, making funding recommendations and coordinating special projects. Prior to that Laurel was Senior Program Officer at the CFMC, and was also responsible for fund development at the Monterey Institute of International Studies and the United Way. Laurel also held corporate marketing positions with Dole Fresh Vegetables Co., The Walt Disney Company, and Colgate-Palmolive Company.

She has a B.A. from UCLA and received her MBA from the Thunderbird School of Global Management. Her current community involvement includes: Literacy Campaign for Monterey County and the Association of Junior Leagues International (Board of Directors). Laurel is a resident of Seaside and is married to Dennis Alexander, a member of the Seaside City Council.