When Jessica Muroff talks about her work, she doesn’t reach for buzzwords or big numbers. She talks about trust—bout what happens when people decide to care for the place they live in, and the complicated work that follows. Starting in January, she’ll bring that outlook to the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, a role that asks her to juggle both generosity and need in a community that has plenty of both.

At United Way Suncoast, she learned that balance firsthand. She took over just before the Covid pandemic upended everything and once spent a weekend trying to confirm whether an email promising a $20 million donation from MacKenzie Scott was real. (It was.) She’s led Girl Scouts, taught kids social-emotional learning, and still says the through line in all of it is listening—especially to the people who don’t always get heard.

Now she’s arriving a the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, where philanthropy is practically a local pastime and the Community Foundation has long been one of the area's steadiest players. The organization manages more than $600 million in charitable funds, backing everything from neighborhood tutoring programs to animal shelters to arts grants. Muroff, 48, will be only its third leader in nearly half a century, following longtime president Roxie Jerde, and she’ll be stepping into a community where giving is generous but the gaps are still visible.

Muroff will step into the new role on Jan. 20, 2026. We spoke to her about her first priorities, the area's most pressing needs and more. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. 

You found out you got the job on Halloween. How did that feel?

"I did! I knew on Halloween but had to keep it a secret, which I’m terrible at. Now that my kids are older, I was able to stay in and give candy out to adorable little kids."

What’s the first thing you want to focus on when you start in January?

"I’m walking into an organization that’s already strong, so the first thing I want to do is build trust and relationships. I already have some of that from serving Sarasota and Manatee at United Way Suncoast, but I understand that how I show up each day impacts everyone else. I want to bring good energy—what I call my 'activator' energy—and be present for both the community and the team. I’m here to listen. It’s about understanding the foundation from the inside out."

At United Way Suncoast, you accepted a $20 million surprise donation from MacKenzie Scott. What did that moment teach you?

"That gift couldn’t have come at a better time. We had big and bold goals, and it gave us the runway to launch that work. Before, we were funding in one-year increments. We were able to shift to three-year commitments, which allowed us to form deeper relationships and have greater impact, [allowing us] to ebb and flow with the dynamics of the work instead of reacting year to year.

"We just wrapped up that three-year cycle, and the results were fantastic. We launched new grants and capacity-building initiatives, especially as housing costs skyrocketed after the pandemic. We invested in data infrastructure and in keeping people in their homes, using dashboards to track housing and early learning outcomes. We really used data to help make decisions and inform our partners. That generosity helped make it possible."

You stepped into United Way Suncoast leadership right as the pandemic hit. How did that experience shape your approach to sustaining culture?

"That’s when I first learned about the Net Promoter Score, which is a way of measuring employee and customer satisfaction. When we first did it, our team's score was -45. Then Covid hit, and we didn’t have a disaster response plan. We needed to stay connected even though we weren’t together physically.

"So we started daily huddles on Zoom—sharing updates, something that made us happy and something we were hoping for. All this time later and we still do it twice a week. It’s optional, but at least half the team joins, and volunteers take turns hosting. That small ritual built real connection. Within a year, our score went from -45 to +29, and it’s +36 now. The team is more connected than ever, and that’s when the magic happens—when people feel supported and seen.

"We also learned to bring our partners together more often—not just nonprofits but funders, too. Collaboration across the social service sector is stronger now than it’s been in years, and that came directly out of that crisis."

Your work often combines data and empathy. How do you balance metrics and heart when deciding where to invest?

"I believe in blending data with empathy. Numbers tell you what’s happening, but listening tells you why. If we don’t understand the lived experiences and context of the people we serve, we’ll never create full, lasting change. It has to be both."

What are the most urgent challenges you see for Sarasota?

"Housing is the big one. Affordability is complex, and while a lot of work is happening, it takes systemic thinking. You can’t just fund one issue—it’s connected to education, health and the workforce. We need strategies that link them.

"There are a lot of funders in this region, and we all need to work together. I think the foundation can be a bridge between business, government and community. We all have a role. When we’re aligned, we can accelerate progress and have greater impact. That’s why two-generation initiatives and approaches are important too."

You started your career in the corporate world. What led you to switch to nonprofits?

"You’re going to laugh. I was serving on boards while working at Raymond James and had young children at the time. I thought that moving into mission-driven work would give me better work-life balance and ease the guilt of leaving my kids at home. That was… naïve. It wasn’t the job; it was my habits.

"But bringing that corporate experience into nonprofit leadership has been invaluable. To be able to serve my community the way I have fills my cup. I don’t get the 'Sunday scaries' anymore. I haven’t had them in 15 years because I’m working in alignment with my values."

Do you see Sarasota’s next generation of donors changing the way philanthropy happens?

"Yes, and it’s something we have to embrace. Roxie [Jerde] worked to enhance the foundation’s technology, and I’m excited to see where it’s heading. At United Way, we launched a platform called Go United that lets donors see their full impact—return on investment, volunteer hours, stories from partners—all in one digital space. It creates a 24/7 connection that feels personal.

"My dream is to use technology the same way here: to help donors see critical issues and connect them with opportunities to invest in solutions. It’s all about building trust and relationships. Every donor has their own goals and values. Our job is to give them the tools to make that connection real."

You and your husband are outdoor adventurers. What parallels do you see between endurance challenges and leadership?

"My husband and I pick one challenge each year that pushes us outside our comfort zone. We’ve done that for a decade now, and it’s been life-changing. It reminds me I’m capable of more than I think. A month ago, we hiked the Presidential Traverse [in New Hampshire]—21 miles, nine mountains, 16 and a half hours. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Last year we ran a marathon in the Swiss Alps.

"It makes me stronger and keeps me grounded. Lots of protein, three liters of water each, poles, headlamps—we only stopped twice the whole day. I get to train with my husband, and we learn a lot about perseverance together."

What do you do to relax?

"I like to walk, read, and eat—though we don’t relax very well. I just finished The Science of Scaling [by by Benjamin Hardy and Blake Erickson] and a rom-com by Abby Jimenez. Her books are like candy."

You’ve said Sarasota’s philanthropic culture stands out. What strikes you most about it?

"The generosity here runs deep. There’s a real depth of trust that’s been built through philanthropy, and that’s inspiring. I’m honored to lead an organization that’s already in such an amazing place and help build even greater impact. It’s a talented team and a community that believes in giving back."