Gulf Coast Community Foundation (Gulf Coast) is pleased to announce the appointment of two Community Leadership officers: Jess Blagdon, Grants and Evaluation Officer; and Tiona Settles, Community Partnerships Officer. In her role as Grants and Evaluation Officer, Blagdon develops, implements, and coordinates grantmaking activities to ensure achievement of Gulf Coast’s mission and goals. In addition, she leads the evaluation of Gulf Coast's Community Leadership work, which includes the impact of grantmaking, capacity-building, and policy and advocacy efforts. As Community Partnerships Officer, Settles serves as a key external-facing team member that leads strategic initiatives that address pressing community needs among nonprofit partners and the public. She also oversees Gulf Coast’s grant writing efforts to secure external funding in support of organizational priorities. Blagdon reports to Erin Minor, VP of Community Leadership; Settles reports to Jennifer Johnston, Director of Community Leadership.