Staff
Danielle Adams
Executive Director Consultant
Danielle is an Oakland native who brings over 17 years of educational leadership and non profit experience. She is also a College Women’s Basketball Coach and has been fortunate to have the opportunity to connect both her passion for education and sports to support over 1,000 student-athletes to accomplish the goals that they have set out for themselves, and she has played a pivotal role in helping them balance their athletic pursuits with their academic and personal aspirations.
Danielle’s ability to connect education and sports underscores the idea that these two domains are not mutually exclusive. Instead, they can complement each other and provide students with holistic growth opportunities. Her achievements also highlight the positive impact that individuals who are passionate about both education and sports can have on the lives of young people.
She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology from San Jose State University and a Master’s degree in Coaching and Athletic Administration from Concordia University Irvine.
Sabrina Foster
Administrative Assistant
Sabrina is a San Francisco native passionate about creating positive change in under-resourced communities. She has first-hand experience of how a lack of adequate resources can discourage individuals from obtaining their goals. She has over 15 years of experience serving the community in the healthcare field and brings high attention to detail with a strong organized mentality to the SFA team.
I am fortunate that SFA chose me to be a part of an amazing organization that makes a difference within the community I grew up in. The connections that SFA creates with not only our young men but the team and stakeholders are truly irreplaceable.
Mara Matosic
Development & Communications Consultant
Mara Matosic brings a wealth of experience from both the private and nonprofit sectors, having worked with renowned organizations such as The Economist, PepsiCo, and Nielsen. With a multicultural background, Mara has seamlessly integrated her skills in marketing, communications, and partnership building to drive positive change. Following the successful launch and exit of her own venture, Mara transitioned back to the nonprofit sector, driven by her commitment to making a meaningful impact in the world.
Born in Croatia and raised in Mexico, Mara’s journey has been marked by a quest for community and a passion for driving change. Her leadership as Country Director at Women Who Code, a global organization dedicated to empowering women in tech, resulted in significant growth in volunteer engagement, exceeding 300%, and forged partnerships with industry giants such as Microsoft, Facebook, Stripe, and WeWork.
Additionally, Mara served on the Board of Directors of the STTE Foundation, where she contributed to strategic planning in marketing and communications, furthering the organization’s mission to empower youth in STEM and entrepreneurship.
Mara holds a Dual Degree in International Relations and Business Administration from Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM) and has also pursued studies at the William Esper Acting Conservatory in New York. She is a human-focused, data-driven leader committed to driving social impact through innovative strategies.
In her current role as a nonprofit consultant specializing in digital donor experience, a term she coined, Mara collaborates with nonprofits in the Bay Area to optimize their engagement strategies and foster meaningful connections with donors. Outside of work, Mara enjoys hiking, reading, exploring new places, and spending time with her family.
Phillip Powell
Program Manager
Phillip Powell brings over 15 years of work experience in the nonprofit sector as a consultant, manager, philanthropist, executive director, and chief executive. He has worked with the Emeryville Education Foundation, Meritus College Foundation, Emery Unified School District, and Peninsula College Fund, among others. Phillip is a magna cum laude honors graduate of Fisk University located in Nashville, TN, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, Religion, and Philosophy. Mr. Powell also furthered his studies and holds certificates from the University of Memphis in Tennessee – Cecil Humphrey Law School Pre-Law Program and abroad at Estudio Sampere in Salamanca, Spain. He also holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of San Francisco with magna cum laude honors. Phillip is passionate about his work at SFA because he, too, was a recipient of a similar scholarship from the Meritus College Fund. He is passionate about guiding youth into a successful future.
Giera Mann
Community Partnerships Coordinator
Giera Mann is a native of Charlotte, North Carolina, and the first in her family to graduate from college. She graduated from North Carolina Central University with her Bachelor’s in History and immediately moved to the Bay Area to work with Teach for America. Her experiences of growing up in the South, working as a teacher, and being a first-generation college student drove her passion to being a hand within the Black community. When she’s not at work, she is either reading, spending time with her friends, or doing homework for graduate school at SFSU.
Miles David
Lead High School Advisor
Miles has had a remarkable journey with the SF Achievers organization, having been part of it for over 17 years as both a scholar and a professional since receiving the scholarship in 2008. In 2016, he established the High School Support Program, which has successfully secured over $2 million in grant funding so far, to support African American young men. He directly engages with high school students, providing them with essential academic and professional guidance.
After a year away, Miles is thrilled to rejoin the team, bringing with him a wealth of experience. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies from San Jose State University. His commitment to empowering the next generation shines through in all his endeavors.
