Gulf Coast Announces Two New Community Leadership Officers

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. Blagdon joined the organization in September, with Settles onboarding in October. 

Jess Blagdon has more than a decade of experience in nonprofit management roles, where she has focused on program development and operations, curriculum implementation, trauma-informed training, family-centered coaching, and grant management. In her role as Grants and Evaluation Officer, she 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. 

She previously held roles with Junior Achievement and The Pearl Project in Ocala, Florida. Prior to joining Gulf Coast, she served as the Associate Director of Database & Grants at Children First, where she led database administration and managed foundation, corporate, and private philanthropy grants. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Management and Human Resources from Santa Fe College and is a TBRI® Practitioner through the Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development at Texas Christian University. She is also a graduate of the Gulf Coast Leadership Institute. 

“Through her extended experience managing grant cycles in community-oriented capacities, Jess is uniquely equipped to serve our region with both strategic insight and compassion,” said Erin Minor, Vice President of Community Leadership. “Her leadership will be key to strengthening Gulf Coast’s ability to provide robust support to our nonprofit partners and community-at-large.” 

Tiona Settles is a seasoned public health professional with both state-wide and county-wide experience. In her role as Community Partnerships Officer, she 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. 

She previously served as the Community & Donor Engagement Coordinator at MCR Health, where she was responsible for cultivating a community engagement strategy with emphasis on community partners, donors, and the facilitation of outreach events. She holds a Master of Public Health and a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Science, both from Florida A&M University. She is a graduate of the Gulf Coast Leadership Institute and was recognized as the Young Professional of the Year by the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce in 2023. 

“Tiona has a talent for building strong partnerships, which makes her a great fit to help expand Gulf Coast’s impact across the community,” said Jennifer Johnston, Director of Community Leadership. “Her experience in community health and deep understanding of the region strengthens our ability to reach and support even more of the people who need it most.” 

Both Blagdon and Settles join the Community Leadership team led by Minor. They are joined by Johnston; Jon Thaxton, Director of Policy and Advocacy; and Harriet Thompson, Community Leadership Coordinator. 

Blagdon can be reached at jblagdon@gulfcoastcf.org; Settles can be reached at tsettles@gulfcoastcf.org.