Katie Fairbairn, Board Advisor

Katie Fairbairn grew up on a family farm in Hopland, California.  Her parents and grandparents grew hops, pears, prunes, and wine grapes.   Throughout her life, there have always been dogs, cats, horses, sheep and a few attempts to rescue injured birds.   Her dad raised McNab shepherds and working dogs are near and dear to her heart.

Prior to moving to Santa Cruz in 2020, she spent the past 31 years in K-14 education in Mendocino County.  With the last 10 years as the Executive Director of the Mendocino College Foundation.  The foundation is the college’s official fundraising arm to the community.  The foundation coordinates a variety of specialty programs such as the scholarship program; book awards and the very popular Adopt A Fifth Grader Program.  In that capacity, she oversaw a 24-member volunteer board, assets in excess of $11 million, all marketing, social media, website coordination and philanthropy to support their goals and student causes on campus.

She served on the Mendocino Community Health Clinics and Greater Ukiah Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.  In her spare time, she, and a dear friend, established a giving circle called 100+ Women Strong Inland Mendo to support local grass-roots nonprofits.

She has worked for Santa Cruz Community Credit Union for the past two plus years as their Chief Experience Officer.    

A self-described country girl at heart, she loves to have a vegetable garden, walk the dogs’ and am a whiskey aficionado.  She feels passionate about volunteering her time and providing support to causes like the Birchbark Foundation.