Muroff will join the Community Foundation Jan. 20, 2026, as its third president and CEO in its more than 45-year history.

The Community Foundation of Sarasota County’s Board of Directors has selected Jessica Muroff as its next president and CEO, effective Jan. 20, 2026.

“Our Board of Directors is thrilled for Jessica to bring her exceptional background and expertise to this role at the Community Foundation,” said Paul Hudson, Community Foundation board chair who has also been serving as interim CEO. “For 45 years, our foundation has worked to achieve a united community through maintaining our role as a trusted philanthropic partner. As a seasoned CEO and strategic decision-maker who understands our generational approach to community investments, Jessica will build on our successes, carrying forward our mission of achieving impact through philanthropy.”

Muroff succeeds Roxie Jerde, whose 14-year tenure as president and CEO concluded with retirement on June 30, 2025.

Muroff has more than 20 years of leadership experience in the nonprofit, philanthropic and business sectors. For the last six years, she has led United Way Suncoast, one of the largest United Ways in Florida, serving five counties in West Central Florida with a team of 63 people. During that time, Muroff led a comprehensive organization transformation by prioritizing community impact through modernized grantmaking and collaborative initiatives and partnerships grounded in data while stewarding $51 million in fiscal assets, including a notable unsolicited donation of $20 million by the philanthropist MacKenzie Scott.

“It is an honor to have been selected to lead this extraordinary organization and steward the charitable wishes of the generous people of this community,” said Muroff. “The culture of compassion, integrity and quality within the Foundation is unmistakable, and the community’s commitment to a brighter future is deeply inspiring. I look forward to building on the Community Foundation’s many strengths and partnerships while working alongside our community to develop innovative solutions to the region’s ever-evolving challenges.”

Muroff was selected after an extensive national search conducted by Kittleman, a Chicago-based executive recruitment firm that specializes in nonprofit leadership.

Board Chair Hudson said that the Community Foundation’s strategic framework, which is based on long-term and responsive efforts to invest in families, dovetails with Muroff’s work leading initiatives related to education, economic mobility and overall community well-being.

“Jessica’s career has been grounded in community and strong values,” Hudson said. “Her expertise, connections throughout the region and reputation for innovation position Jessica well to usher our foundation into an era of new possibilities.”

Over the last 15 years, the Community Foundation has grown assets under management from $190 million in charitable dollars to more than $600 million and is forecast to double to more than $1 billion over the next decade. Muroff will be charged with developing and executing an ambitious and innovative plan to drive these efforts.

“We are fortunately grounded in our mission and core values that will sustain the growth and expand the impact of our foundation,” Hudson said. “We are in an excellent position to welcome Jessica and ensure the success we envision. Through thoughtful board guidance, as well as adherence to our strategic vision, Jessica will carry on our key initiatives and lead our organization into a new era.”

Muroff will be the third leader of the Community Foundation, which was established in 1979 by the Southwest Florida Estate Planning Council to connect donors with nonprofit organizations. Jerde was preceded by Stewart Stearns, who led the foundation from 1988 to 2010.

Muroff’s Experience

Muroff is a nationally recognized leader within the United Way. Over the last six years, she led the redevelopment of United Way Suncoast’s investment approach, shifting from short-term funding cycles to longer-term, systems-level partnerships that drive measurable improvements in community well-being. She also reoriented the organization’s strategy to be rooted in data—ensuring charitable dollars are invested with clarity of focus and transparency in results, demonstrating thoughtful stewardship of every contribution.

Notably, Muroff has also been a partner of the Community Foundation over the years, collaborating on disaster recovery, capacity building of nonprofits and advocating for support of regional resources that enable the nonprofit community to serve the region.

“Community foundations play a critical role in bringing people together to help build strong communities and push for better outcomes for all,” Muroff said. “We are vital partners, problem-solvers and leaders in our local landscape. My career and life’s work has been dedicated to serving the community I live in, and I am eager to make Sarasota County and the surrounding area a better place to live, work and thrive for generations to come.”

Before joining United Way Suncoast, Muroff served as chief executive officer of Girl Scouts of West Central Florida and in the same role of Frameworks of Tampa Bay, a social and emotional learning nonprofit organization serving youth. She also has a deep background in business development, recruiting, marketing and communications. Muroff is a member of the University of South Florida’s Women in Leadership & Philanthropy and the CEO Council of Tampa Bay and is a graduate of Leadership Florida.

Muroff has been recognized by Florida Trend as one of Florida’s most influential business leaders and she holds a Master of Arts degree in English education from the University of South Florida. A passionate outdoor adventurer, Muroff seeks out challenges that mirror her approach to leadership—climbing mountains, running marathons and pursuing bold goals with grit and purpose.

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About the Community Foundation of Sarasota County: The Community Foundation of Sarasota County is a public charity founded in 1979 by the Southwest Florida Estate Planning Council as a resource for caring individuals and the causes they support, enabling them to make a charitable impact on the community. With assets of $605 million in more than 1,600 charitable funds, the Community Foundation awarded grants and scholarships totaling $49.5 million dollars last year in the areas of education, the arts, health and human services, civic engagement, animal welfare and the environment. Since its founding, the Community Foundation has been able to grant more than $542 million to area nonprofit organizations in our community thanks to the generosity of charitable individuals, families, and businesses. For more information, visit cfsarasota.org or call 941-955-3000.