Susan Mayer Hirsch has dedicated her career to helping people help others. She has more than 20 years experience in strategic philanthropy and political advocacy.

Susan specializes in developing focused giving programs for individuals and family foundations. She designs governance and decision-making structures for foundations seeking to make a real impact in the community, including creating stewardship programs and planning for future generations. Susan also works with corporate clients on their philanthropic strategies and helps them identify and mesh business and community objectives. She is particularly skilled at working with clients to assess their interests and needs and shepherding them through the giving process to reach their philanthropic goals.

Prior to launching Hirsch & Associates in 1999, Susan was the founding executive director at the Miriam and Peter Haas Fund. She created, planned and implemented the fund's administrative and programmatic activities from 1992-1998. She also served as executive director of Strive for Five, a regional effort designed to encourage greater financial and volunteer involvement in the nonprofit sector.

As Manager of Public Affairs for McKesson Corporation from 1980-1989, Susan advised senior management and field personnel on local, state and federal issues affecting McKesson's business, political and community interests. She also served as Special Assistant to McKesson's Chairman of the Board, concentrating on education and campaign finance reform issues.

After receiving her BA in International Economics in 1977, Susan worked at the Council on Foreign Relations as an assistant to the publisher of "Foreign Affairs" magazine. She was also a staff assistant to the late Senator Henry M. Jackson (D-WA), handling constituent and housing issues.

Susan has served on numerous local, state and national boards. She currently serves on the boards of UCSF Langley Porter, San Francisco School Alliance Foundation, San Francisco Day School and Mayor Newsom's Children's Policy Council. She is a member of the Council on Foundations Philanthropic Advisors Network and the Family Foundation Network. Prior board service includes Jewish Family and Children's Services, California Common Cause, San Francisco Education Fund, Trauma Center at San Francisco General Hospital, Breakthrough Collaborative National Board and Northern California Grantmakers.

Email: susan@hirschassoc.com

Mary Kuehn

Mary Kuehn is Manager, Donor Services at Hirsch & Associates. For the past 20 years, Mary has managed client relations in both the private and public sectors. With expertise in communications, marketing and research, she skillfully defines both problems and solutions and is consistently recognized for her creativity and attention to detail. Mary always has her clients' best interests at heart and particularly enjoys the family-issue side of philanthropy.

Mary's other skills include mentoring new philanthropists, providing charitable research and analysis, and managing the grantmaking process. She has a solid knowledge base of the numerous charitable organizations in the Bay Area and Seattle and is an active member of Northern California Grantmakers.

Prior to working at Hirsch & Associates, Mary spent several years managing educational marketing for Massey University, New Zealand, and helped launch the Saturn advertising campaign at Hal Riney & Partners in San Francisco. Mary also served as a sales representative at "Advertising Age" in Chicago and "California Magazine" in San Francisco, developing effective advertising plans based on client need.

Email: mary@hirschassoc.com

Justa Mui

Justa Mui is Administrative Manager at Hirsch & Associates. With a background in administrative and program management, Justa is skilled in organizing and problem-solving and has great attention to detail. Justa has always been passionate about helping others and finding ways to better the communities we live in. After spending some time in the marketing and advertising industry she found that her skills and interests were better served in the world of philanthropy.

Prior to joining Hirsch & Associates, Justa was Program Coordinator at Opera Piccola (“Small Works”), a nonprofit educational theater company. As the program coordinator, Justa managed an arts education program that focuses on literacy and youth development through the visual and performing arts. She also served as Corporate Affairs Associate at the Partnership for New York City, a nonprofit organization working to promote the economy of the five boroughs of New York City.

A native of San Francisco, Justa graduated from San Francisco State University with a bachelor’s of science in business administration with a concentration in marketing. Justa is an aficionado of “good food and great company”. She studied classical French cooking and graduated from the French Culinary Institute in New York City.

Email: justa@hirschassoc.com

Claudia Sandoval

Claudia Sandoval is Manager, Programs at Hirsch & Associates where she develops and manages the programmatic interests of our clients. Claudia has dedicated her career to improving the educational opportunities for youth. Prior to joining Hirsch & Associates, she worked as the Director of City and School Partnerships for the City of San Francisco. Her charge was to create a model partnership, where City resources strengthen and support the educational mission of San Francisco Unified School District.    

Formerly she served as Special Assistant to Superintendent Rudolph F. Crew, Miami-Dade County Public Schools. In Miami, Claudia worked on the Wellness Initiative, 2004-2007 District Strategic Plan, Management Employees Evaluation and Incentive Pay, and Knowledge Management. Prior to M-DCPS, Claudia worked for a variety of educational nonprofits in New York and California, gaining experience at both the policy and program levels. She served as Youth Services Division Director for Catholic Charities in San Jose, CA. At Catholic Charities, Claudia directed the start-up of CORAL San Jose, a program which seeks to improve academic achievement in an after-school program. The Youth Services Division provided intervention, prevention, and enrichment programs daily for approximately 800 school-aged youth. Claudia also served as a Policy Consultant for the California School Board Association, where she led the state-mandated audit of the Oakland Unified School District.

Claudia is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, earning a Bachelor of Arts in History and a Bachelor of Arts in Ethnic Studies. She holds a Masters of Education from the Harvard University Graduate School of Education. Claudia is also a graduate of Coro Eastern Center Fellows Program.

Email: claudia@hirschassoc.com

Sorrenta Stuart

Sorrenta works at Hirsch & Associates supporting staff on administrative and research projects. Her ability to analyze data and present it clearly is a skill valued by our clients. Before joining Hirsch & Associates, Sorrenta counseled employees of the City and County of San Francisco through the city’s Employee Assistance Program.

Taking advantage of outdoor and sports opportunities, as well as practicing Italian makes San Francisco a good place to call home.

Sorrenta received her Master’s degree at the University of San Francisco in 2005 in Counseling Psychology. She also has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Law and Society from the University of California at Davis.

Email: sorrenta@hirschassoc.com

Consultants

Hirsch & Associates collaborates with a talented group of carefully selected independent consultants when needed to help our clients meet their charitable goals.