After an national search, the Santa Barbara Foundation (SBF) has appointed Bonnie Forssell as its new vice president of finance and administration.
With more than 20 years’ experience in finance and leadership, Forssell most recently served for seven years as the chief financial officer of Vitamin Angels, a Goleta-based international nonprofit focused on public health in underserved communities.
“We are so pleased to have Bonnie join our team,” said Jackie Carrera, president.CEO at SBF. “Her blend of leadership skills, experience with high-value and technology businesses, and commitment to the nonprofits at the heart of our work will help the foundation significantly advance our mission.”
Forssell started her career with KPMG in its audit practice, and since then has led the finance function at billion-dollar global organizations and rapidly expanding health tech start-ups, as well as serving small businesses as an outsourced CFO.
“Working with Vitamin Angels uncovered my passion for the nonprofit sector,” Forssell said. “I am deeply motivated by the power of generosity and shared responsibility, so I’m excited to expand my support for nonprofits across Santa Barbara County while serving the Santa Barbara Foundation team, partners and stakeholders.”
Forsell is a CPA licensed in California (inactive) and graduated with a master of accountancy with an emphasis in information systems from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
She was named a Top CFO by the Pacific Coast Business Times; 25 Most Promising California CFOs by Finance Weekly; and was twice nominated for the CFO Leadership Awards by the Los Angeles Times.
She has been asked to speak numerous times on such topics as what successful CFOs do, leading organizations through a pandemic, building an IT ecosystem, and how the role of the CFO has evolved.
Founded in 1928, the Santa Barbara Foundation connects donors, nonprofits, government, businesses and the people of Santa Barbara County to take on the most challenging needs facing the region’s communities. For more, visit SBFoundation.org.