President Emeritus, California Community Foundation

Board Advisor 

Since becoming president of the California Community Foundation in 1980, Jack Shakely has spearheaded a strategy of philanthropic management that has increased the community foundation's assets thirty-fold to more than $600 million. In the process, the California Community Foundation has become one of the most innovative grantmaking organizations in the country, named by Peter Drucker as "one of the ten best-managed nonprofits in America."

Shakely was Director of Communications and publisher of Foundation News Magazine for the Council on Foundations in Washington, D.C. prior to joining the community foundation. He serves as Chair of the Beverly Hills Land Corporation and is a member of many national and Southern California nonprofit organizations including University of Southern California Center on Philanthropy and Public Policy, Eureka Communities, Los Angeles Men's Place (L.A.M.P.), and Community Partners. Shakely has been recognized as Outstanding Professional by the Los Angeles National Philanthropy Day Committee and the Newcomen Society.

Shakely served in the Peace Corps in Costa Rica and was an officer in the US Army, with a specialty in Latin American Affairs. Of Cherokee/Creek descent, Shakely was appointed by Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan in 1993 as a commissioner of the Los Angeles City/County American Indian Commission, which he served as chair from 1994-1995.

An author of hundreds of articles, essays and editorials, Shakely began his career as a newspaper editor and reporter. He was graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in journalism.

Shakely resides in Santa Monica with his wife, Kitty Bartholomew and their four children, Benton, Brooke, Bo and Bridget.