FEBRUARY Member Spotlight
Meet Jessica Muroff Jessica Muroff is president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, where she works alongside donors and community partners to address real, everyday challenges and strengthen long-term opportunity. She has spent her career building trust, aligning people around shared purpose, and helping communities move from good intentions to meaningful impact. |
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What is your involvement with Florida Philanthropic Network? What influenced you to join?
"My involvement with the Florida Philanthropic Network has always been rooted in learning and connection. I was drawn to FPN because it creates space for honest conversation about what’s working, what’s challenging, and how we can do better together. One of my favorite FPN memories was participating in Fail Fest, where I shared a professional failure on stage in front of hundreds of peers. That experience captured what I value most about this community: trust, humility, and a willingness to learn from one another."
Name one thing you find special about the Florida philanthropic community.
"Florida’s philanthropic community is deeply relational. People here care about progress, but they also care about people, and that balance matters. There is a strong sense of shared responsibility and a genuine openness to partnership, which allows us to respond quickly while still thinking long-term."
Are there any partnerships or collaboration efforts you have found most meaningful to you in the last year?
"The most meaningful collaborations for me in the last year have been around hurricane recovery and community resilience. Our region has faced repeated storms, and each one has reinforced the importance of organizations, donors, and community leaders coming together quickly and intentionally. While the circumstances are never easy, we are far better equipped and prepared, and we can balance immediate recovery with longer-term resilience and readiness for what comes next."
What's the biggest challenge you've faced with your philanthropic efforts? How have you overcome them?
"One of the biggest challenges is holding the tension between urgency and sustainability—meeting immediate needs while also investing in long-term solutions. Innovation plays an important role in navigating that tension, especially when it helps us adapt, learn, and work differently without losing sight of community needs. By staying present, open to new approaches, and grounded in strong relationships, we’re able to respond thoughtfully while continuing to build for what comes next."
What fuels your cup - in life and at work?
"At work, it’s meaningful conversations and shared purpose—being in rooms with people who care deeply and are willing to do the work together. In life, it’s my family, time outdoors, physical challenges that reset my perspective, and creating space to be fully present. Those moments keep me anchored and energized."
Can you share one piece of advice you would give to someone considering a career in philanthropy?
"Be curious and humble, but also be accountable to impact. Philanthropy isn’t just meaningful work; it carries real responsibility. When done well, it can move the needle and improve communities in lasting ways. Treat that responsibility as a gift: listen deeply, make thoughtful decisions, and stay focused on outcomes that matter, not just good intentions."