Alexa Benson-Valavanis, President & Chief Executive Officer of the North Valley Community Foundation; a Northern California based nonprofit public charity, managing more than $10 million in assets.

Alexa took the post of CEO in July of 2005, during the Foundation's 16th year of operations. Under her leadership the Foundation has brought in more than $30 million, and increased assets under management from $2 million to more than $10 million. During that time the granting capabilities have increased tremendously granting more than $3 million a year to 500 local, national and international charities. In addition to asset growth, Alexa expanded the Foundation’s core services to include community capacity building for the nonprofit sector; establishing the region’s only nonprofit council "North Valley Nonprofit Council”. The Foundation then launched the largest discretionary grant program in the North State, called "Annie B's Community Drive”, and the programs first five years ('07-'11) NVCF has granted more than $5 million to participating organizations.

Alexa currently serves as the Vice President of the Calacirya Foundation, an international foundation focused on working with the rural poor of Guatemala, specifically in the areas of alternative energy sources and sustainable agriculture. Alexa serves as a board member for 3Core a Chico-based economic development corporation. She also sits on the board of Orphan Care International, a US based charity working in Zambia. And, she is a founding member and steering committee member of TedxChico. Additionally, Alexa sits on the California State University, Chico Service Learning Advisory Committee and she acts as a Special Advisor to Feeding Nations Through Education, an International NGO serving in Burkina Faso. 

Prior to joining the Foundation, Valavanis founded and was Executive Director of the Seeds of Life Foundation, a Guatemalan-based nonprofit focused on development of indigenous owned and operated nonprofits. Alexa's areas of expertise include business infrastructure development, management and communications. Prior to establishing the Seeds of Life Foundation, Alexa worked in Shanghai, China with international kindergartens.  

Karen White our Chief Financial Officer joined the NVCF in December of 2008.  She comes to the Foundation with more than 15 years of experience in accounting and bookkeeping.

During her time with the North Valley Community Foundation White has  streamlined the back-office functions and utilized her innovative and analytical skills to refine our systems and client services. White not only manages the financial operations for the Foundation she also works directly with NVCF clients in their day-to-day fund needs.

During White's time at the North Valley Community Foundation she has greatly improved the systems behind our accounts payable process, payroll, quarterly reports to clients as well as grant programs, including but not limited to, Annie B's Community Drive. Karen's meticulous work ethic and dedication to benefiting our communities is a tremendous asset to our team. 

In her personal time Karen is an avid outdoors woman - enjoying hiking, horseback riding and, yes, archery!

White is available at the Foundation Monday, Wednesday and Friday 8am-5pm or by appointment. 

Karen can be reached at kwhite@nvcf.org or 530-891-1150 ext. 30