Valerie Goode

Valerie Goode is the Chief Marketing Officer at the San Francisco Foundation (SFF), one of the largest community foundations in the country. Goode joined SFF in April 2020 to support the foundation’s mission of advancing racial equity and economic inclusion in the Bay Area. She is a tested communications professional with over 20 years of experience helping local and national organizations design and implement successful communication strategies. Goode brings an infectious, fun, and energetic personality to her work.

Goode is known for counseling organizations and leaders on utilizing the media and building strong local partnerships. She is on a lifelong journey of advancing racial equity, narrative shift, and strategies for changing behaviors and attitudes. She has been fortunate to work in many fields including journalism, public health, education and now philanthropy. Each experience has provided unique looks at the intersectionality of race, class, and gender within our society.

Prior to joining SFF, Goode was the Deputy Chief of Communications and Public Affairs for the Oakland Unified School District in California. She also served as the first Director of Marketing for Broward County Public Schools in Florida, the sixth largest school district in the US. Before that, she dedicated herself to over a decade in health communications with the Gallup Organization and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Early in her career, she covered crime for the local newspaper in Syracuse, New York.

Goode holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Public Relations from Northeastern University. In her spare time, she works with youth and helps community organizations access resources and information. She lives in the East Bay with her husband and two daughters.