Surdna’s Finance and Operations: Strong Roots, New Leadership
Celebrating Marc de Venoge and Three Promotions
This month, the Surdna Foundation announced that after 35 years, Marc de Venoge is retiring from his role as vice president of Finance and Investing, effective June 1, 2026. The foundation also announced that three members of the finance and operations teams—Matt Walegir, Adam Connaker, and Jasmin Castillo— have been promoted.
A Legacy of Stewardship
Marc leaves Surdna with a finance operation built to last—a strong team, sound policies, and proven practices that ensure Surdna’s financial stewardship will continue without missing a beat. He joined Surdna as its first CFO and fourth employee in 1990. Over the course of his tenure, he built and led the finance and administration team, oversaw the endowment and investment managers, launched the foundation’s impact investing portfolio, and stewarded Surdna’s charitable status and financial reputation. From the early days of Surdna’s one-room headquarters to the history-infused office on Madison Avenue today, Marc was also a devoted keeper of the foundation’s history, ensuring that the legacy of founder John E. Andrus remained alive within the institution.
“I am proud of Surdna’s 35-year above-benchmark endowment performance and how our financial discipline and strategies have always honored Surdna’s grant commitments and sought to align our mission and money,” said Marc de Venoge, vice president of finance and investing. “Serving at the Surdna Foundation has been a profound privilege. The enduring charitable legacy of John and Julia Andrus, along with the unwavering integrity of this family foundation board, inspired my work every single day.”
New Roles and Responsibilities
Matt Walegir has been named CFO. Matt joined Surdna in 2015 as controller and has been integral to the foundation’s impact investing program since its launch in 2017. In his new role, Matt will oversee budgeting, financial reporting, compliance, and grant payments, and serve as the primary steward of Surdna’s assets, charitable status, and financial reputation.
“I’m grateful to continue serving Surdna’s mission,” said Matt Walegir, CFO. “In over a decade here, I’ve seen this institution’s impact on the field of philanthropy and the extraordinary work of our grantees, staff, and board — past and present. I’m excited to help that impact grow.”
Adam Connaker has been named vice president of investments. Adam joined Surdna in 2022 as the director of impact investing, helping to build and advance the foundation’s mission-aligned investments. In his expanded role, he now oversees endowment management in collaboration with Surdna’s external investment consultants and continues to develop Surdna’s long-term Impact Investing portfolio with the Investment Committee.
“Impact investing has always been about more than deploying capital; it’s about demonstrating what’s possible in capital markets,” said Adam Connaker, vice president of investments. “I’m excited to build on the work we’ve done with the impact investing portfolio and bring those learnings to Surdna’s full endowment. There’s real momentum here, and I can’t wait to see how far we can take this work.”
Jasmin Castillo has been named vice president of operations. She joined Surdna in 2016 as executive assistant to the president and was promoted to head of administration and the Office of the President in 2023. In her expanded role, she oversees administration, information technology, human resources, and culture, aligning policies, practices, and operations across the foundation.
“Operations is where values meet practice,” said Jasmin Castillo, vice president of operations. “I’m honored to step into this role and committed to building the systems and culture that advance equity inside Surdna, so we can show up more fully for the communities we serve.”
Adam, Matt, and Jasmin will report to Surdna President Don Chen, and their prior responsibilities have been absorbed into their new roles. The foundation does not plan to hire a direct replacement for Marc’s former position.
“Marc de Venoge has been a cornerstone of Surdna for more than 35 years, and his departure marks the end of a remarkable era,” said Don Chen, president of the Surdna Foundation. “At the same time, I couldn’t be more confident in the team he leaves behind. Adam, Matt, and Jasmin have each grown into exceptional leaders, and these promotions reflect the depth of talent we’re fortunate to have at Surdna. We are well positioned to continue our work with the same rigor and care Marc modeled throughout his tenure.”