About me
Miguel A. Santana has more than three decades of expertise in government, nonprofit, private, philanthropy and the community sectors and is renowned as an advocate for systems change and making Southern California a more equitable place for all its residents, especially those who have been historically marginalized.
Santana was appointed in August of 2023 as President and CEO of the California Community Foundation (CCF), one of Southern California’s largest and most active philanthropic organizations, which has severed Angelenos for more than a century. CCF stewards $2.3 billion in assets and manages more than 1,900 charitable foundations, funds, and legacies.
Previously, Santana severed as President & C.E.O. of the Weingart Foundation, which partners with communities across Southern California to advance racial, social, and economic justice. He also served as President and C.E.O. of Fairplex, a nonprofit community benefit regional organization based in Pomona, CA.
Santana was the City Administrative Officer for the City of Los Angeles, where he oversaw the City’s $9 billion budget and designed the City’s first comprehensive homeless strategy, resulting in a $1.2 billion voter-approved housing bond and a doubling of the City’s general fund investment on programs to end homelessness. Prior to joining the city, he served as one of five Deputy Chief Executive Officers for Los Angeles County, overseeing all social service programs supporting children, families, veterans, and persons experiencing homelessness.
Santana began his career as a community liaison at the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), before working with L.A. County Supervisor Gloria Molina.
He engages in numerous civic efforts and is currently serving as Chair of The Angeleno Project. He also serves on numerous nonprofit boards, including the New York-based, Surdna Foundation. He is currently the Second Vice Chair of the Los Angeles County Affordable Housing Solutions Authority (LACAHSA) and is Commissioner of CALACCOUNT Blue Ribbon Commission.
Santana earned his BA in Sociology and Latin American Studies from Whittier College and a MPA in Public Administration from Harvard University.
