Kendra Onishi, Chief Development Officer, is a passionate servant leader dedicated to empowering community-led solutions and promoting equity. As Chief Development Officer at PolicyLink, Kendra develops strategic approaches and builds innovative partnerships to further the organization’s mission to advance a nation where all can thrive and plays a key role in elevating the visibility of PolicyLink as a leader in social change.

Prior to PolicyLink, Kendra served as the Vice President of Development at Silicon Valley Community Foundation, the country’s largest community foundation and an institution focused on making Silicon Valley a more equitable and vibrant place for all. At SVCF, she expanded and refined the Foundation’s philanthropic service offerings, built innovative funding partnerships to address community needs and tackle systemic challenges, and developed and implemented successful strategies to increase the foundation’s resources. During her tenure, Foundation assets grew from just over $8B to over $14B.

A trusted advisor to changemakers and mission-driven institutions, Kendra previously worked as a nonprofit consultant for BDO USA, LLP’s Nonprofit & Education Advisory Services team, providing consulting services to foundations, nonprofits, and higher education institutions across a diverse range of service offerings, including organizational strategy and development, operational efficiency, program evaluation, financial management and compliance, and grant administration and design.

Kendra began her work in the social impact space in international education exchange and directly managed several educational exchange and teacher leadership development programs funded by the Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State.

Kendra holds a master’s degree in religious studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara and a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Northeastern University.  She also is a senior fellow for the American Leadership Forum of Silicon Valley.

Kendra lives in San Jose with her husband, Brad, and their two daughters, Kaia and Kasia. She is an outdoors enthusiast, foodie, and avid traveler.