The Santa Monica Education Foundation Board of Directors has completed a nationwide search for the organization’s next Executive Director with the appointment of longtime nonprofit professional and education leader Raymur Flinn to the role.

Flinn comes to the Ed Foundation with extensive experience in nonprofit leadership, fundraising and advocacy for public schools and the students they serve. Her experiences include both professional and volunteer leadership roles within the Redondo Beach Unified School District, including serving as PTA Council President and as Executive Director of the Redondo Beach Educational Foundation. Since 2019, she has served as an elected member of the District’s Board of Trustees.

“I look forward to working with everyone in the Santa Monica community to continue the incredible work the Santa Monica Education Foundation does in supporting quality educational opportunities for all students in Santa Monica public schools,” Flinn stated. “I’ve been so impressed and energized by everyone I’ve met so far, and I’m thrilled to step into this important role in the Santa Monica community.”

Flinn’s prior leadership of the Redondo Beach Educational Foundation yielded impressive results, including an 82% growth in annual dollars raised and nearly $2 million in annual contributions to the Redondo Beach Unified School District.

“The Santa Monica Education Foundation is excited to welcome Raymur as its new Executive Director,” Ed Foundation Board President John Baracy shared. “Her passion, energy and excitement for the work of the Ed Foundation, and her prior experiences in and knowledge of fundraising and public education, will be tremendously valuable to the Ed Foundation and the Santa Monica community.”

“I was so pleased to meet with Raymur and see her passion and commitment to supporting public education,” Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Antonio Shelton stated. “The Santa Monica Education Foundation is a vital partner to the District and an indelible part of our community. I have the utmost confidence in Raymur as its next Executive Director.”

Ed Foundation Board Finalizes Transition Plans

Flinn will join the Ed Foundation on a part-time basis effective May 30 and will work with Interim Executive Director Linda Greenberg and the Ed Foundation Board in the coming weeks to learn the inner workings of the Ed Foundation and meet SMMUSD families and community members. She will officially assume the role of Executive Director effective July 1.

“I’m excited to inherit and continue the work Linda Greenberg and others have engaged in these many years,” Flinn said. “The Ed Foundation has evolved from one that reacted to urgent needs to one that now looks to the future and moves strategically to ensure that funding will always be available for our community’s educational priorities.”

“Linda, her staff and the Ed Foundation Board of Directors, along with the greater Santa Monica community, have built one of the most impactful K-12 education foundations in Southern California,” Flinn continued. “I’m honored to assume this role and continue the amazing work Linda and her team have done over the years.”

Greenberg, the longtime Ed Foundation leader who resumed the full-time Executive Director role on an interim basis last November, will remain involved with the Ed Foundation even as she steps back from a full-time role, providing her wealth of experience and community contacts as resources to Flinn as she assumes the Executive Director’s role.

“I’ve known Raymur for several years and have always seen her as an incredibly gifted leader and dedicated champion for public schools,” Greenberg said. “I couldn’t be happier to see her take the reins of the Santa Monica Education Foundation as its next Executive Director, and I’m excited to work with her on a seamless transition in the coming weeks.”

For more about the Ed Foundation, visit www.smedfoundation.org.

Submitted by Heather Epps, Director of Communications & Events