Anna María Chávez brings a rare combination of strategic intelligence, deep empathy and fearless innovation to her role as president and chief executive officer of the Arizona Community Foundation. Her work isn’t confined to managing philanthropic dollars; it’s about steering resources toward sustainable change, empowering marginalized voices and engineering systems that serve with purpose.
Her journey—from small-town beginnings in Arizona to national leadership in both government and nonprofit sectors—has prepared her to transform institutions from the inside out. At the Arizona Community Foundation, Chávez has redefined what a community funder can be. Under her guidance, the organization has expanded its influence across sectors including healthcare, education, housing and the arts, while increasing donor engagement and delivering measurable outcomes across the state.
Philanthropy in her hands is not passive. She has introduced a modernized framework for grantmaking and investment—one that leverages data, aligns mission with performance and prioritizes equity. Internal systems have been overhauled to increase transparency and efficiency, ensuring that every initiative responds directly to community need.
Chávez’s recognition as a Titan 100 Honoree is a tribute to this impact. It affirms her ability to innovate within structures that are often resistant to change, and to do so while keeping humanity at the center of the work. Whether engaging policymakers or working alongside grassroots organizers, she remains anchored in listening and collaboration.
Reimagining the future of work is central to her leadership. She is building a culture at the foundation where cross-functional learning, digital fluency and inclusive decision-making are foundational—not aspirational. Her approach to workforce development prioritizes values just as much as skills, ensuring that the team reflects the diversity and resilience of the communities they serve.
Her drive is sustained through direct engagement. Chávez regularly convenes community leaders, nonprofit stakeholders and mission-aligned partners to share insight and co-create new approaches. That ecosystem of dialogue fuels her direction and reinforces the idea that philanthropy must remain responsive to those closest to the challenges.
Given the chance to instantly master any skill, she would choose storytelling. Not as a tool for marketing, but as a mechanism for understanding. For Chávez, the ability to tell the full arc of a community’s challenges and victories is vital to galvanizing support and building lasting trust.
What makes her a Titan isn’t her résumé—it’s her reach. Chávez has served on national task forces, guided policy reform and reimagined how foundations can drive systemic outcomes. Yet, she remains most proud of lifting others into leadership—particularly women and people of color whose talents too often go unseen.
Under her leadership, the Arizona Community Foundation is no longer just a steward of charitable giving—it is a dynamic engine for progress. Through vision, execution and a deep belief in shared purpose, Chávez is reshaping what it means to lead a mission-driven institution in the 21st century.
