Sarah Stretz has been named chief development officer at the SBCC Foundation. Stretz is a fourth-generation Santa Barbara native who attended Santa Barbara High School.
After earning her BA in English from UCLA, she began working in advertising sales in Los Angeles at television networks A&E, History Channel, Weather Channel, CBS, and Fox. During her tenure in the television industry, she worked with national corporations such as Walmart, Lexus, Honda, Starbucks and Wendy’s.
She also oversaw station compliance for political campaigns on the local and national level as well as marketing and advertising campaigns for locally-owned businesses.
In 2013, Stretz moved with her family back to Santa Barbara and worked as a business development director for the American Heart Association, where she led fundraising and public relations for the Go Red for Women campaign and Heart Ball. She successfully launched the first Red Tie Society on the west coast and set a record-breaking day of giving.
“I am excited to join the SBCC Foundation’s outstanding team, working to engage the community, partnering with local leaders, building relationships, and supporting programs that empower students to succeed,” Stretz said.
For the last 6 ½ years Stretz served as the development director at the Music Academy where she oversaw foundations corporate partnerships, women’s auxiliary fundraisers, as well as the benefits program. She was key in bringing the Music Academy’s annual gala back to its campus. In 2020 she launched an online auction that garnered some $200,000.
Stretz has served on the boards of the National Charity League, Junior League of Santa Barbara and Albuquerque, and the Santa Barbara Swim Club. While living in Tampa Bay, Florida, she was a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Women’s Organization and involved in the NFL’s Play 60.
Stretz is a current member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and Charitable Gift Planners Council, a sustaining member of the Junior League of Santa Barbara, and is involved in the San Marcos High School Aquatics program.
“We are delighted to welcome Sarah to our team,” said Geoff Green, foundation CEO. “This is a critical moment for our community colleges and with Sarah’s leadership, the SBCC Foundation will continue to ensure that our community’s support of SBCC is strong and the generosity of our partners and donors rises to meet the moment.”
The SBCC Foundation has provided Santa Barbara City College with private philanthropic support since 1976, serving as the vehicle through which individuals and organizations may invest in the college and its students. For more, visit sbccfoundation.org.