Jeffrey Jiménez-Kurlander Moves on to New Position

The Surdna Foundation announced today that Jeffrey Jiménez-Kurlander, learning and impact officer, is moving on to a new position as manager of strategic learning and evaluation at the Mellon Foundation, the largest funder of arts and humanities in the United States. 

Over six years ago, Jeff joined Surdna, initially serving as a program associate for the Inclusive Economies team before transitioning to the Learning and Grant Operations department. In his most recent role as learning and impact officer, Jeff supported the planning and implementation of the Foundation’s learning agenda and drove innovations that have redefined how it measures impact.   

During his tenure at Surdna, Jeff reimagined data analytics, data visualization, and program evaluation at Surdna. He designed and implemented learning systems that improved transparency and enabled impact measurement. Jeff developed data systems that operationalized Surdna’s evaluation frameworks and improved its demographic data collection by partnering with Candid to drive more informed and equitable decision-making. Jeff also stewarded grantmaking that strengthened data infrastructure in service of racial equity and explored the intersections of emerging technologies and society.   

“Serving at Surdna has been a transformative journey,” said Jeff. “I’m immensely proud of both the innovative strategies we developed and the pivotal projects we executed—whether it was integrating advanced analytics, launching technology-driven initiatives, or overhauling our reporting systems. I look forward to leveraging these insights at the Mellon Foundation for meaningful change in the arts and humanities.”   

“Jeff’s dedication, innovative spirit, and excitement about the ways in which data can inform our work has had a positive impact on all areas of the Surdna Foundation and our grantee partners,” said Jonathan Goldberg, vice president of Learning and Impact at Surdna. “He will be greatly missed, not only for his professional contributions but also for the joy he brought to the work every day.”