Stanislaus 2030 is a public-private partnership led and operated by full-time Executive Director Amanda Hughes. In this role, Amanda oversees a team that drives distributed implementation of multiple initiatives relating to Stanislaus 2030 shared priorities, including talent development, childcare expansion, and small business supports. As the center of gravity for Stanislaus 2030, Amanda provides sustained leadership, neutral facilitation support to hold partners accountable, and identifies new funding that aligns with Stanislaus 2030 strategies, while also creating a
platform to track and measure progress metrics over time.
Prior to leading Stanislaus 2030, Amanda served for over 10 years at Stanislaus Community Foundation. As Chief Strategy Officer, Amanda educated and connected local donors to the
nonprofit sector and managed all grantmaking and community leadership activities on behalf of the foundation. This included the conceptualization of signature initiatives and foundation programs, such as the Stanislaus Cradle to Career Partnership, the Next Gen on Board youth empowerment program, and most recently, the Stanislaus 2030 inclusive economic development planning process. Amanda worked to build the foundation’s knowledge of community issues through participation in regional networks and conducting original research – including county-wide
nonprofit surveys, listening sessions and empathy interviews with community-based partners and residents – which served to assess local needs, inform innovative solutions and increase awareness of impactful investment opportunities. In her tenure, Amanda helped grow the foundation’s charitable assets from $12 million to over $40 million, directed over $10 million in grants to community-based organizations, and awarded over $2,000,000 in scholarships to local students.
A Modesto native, Amanda obtained her bachelor’s degree in international Affairs and French from Lewis and Clark College and a master’s degree in public administration from CSU, Stanislaus. In her free time, Amanda enjoys hiking and floating rivers with her husband, Noah, her two daughters, Edie and Josie, and her golden retriever, Cora Mae.
