Jay Sherwin, Vice President for Programs

Jay Sherwin brings to College Access Foundation of California more than 15 years of experience in designing, managing and evaluating grantmaking programs for national, regional and community foundations.

Jay began his career in the office of Congressman Howard Wolpe (D-Mich.), whom he advised in issue areas including education, social services, civil rights and foreign policy. Following that, he was the founding Program Director for the Jewish Fund for Justice, where he managed a national grantmaking program supporting innovative, community-based efforts to combat poverty and promote social justice. After earning a law degree, he represented the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Social Services in child protection cases.

In the 1990’s, Jay was a Program Officer for the Greater Worcester Community Foundation, where he managed a competitive grants program benefiting residents of Central Massachusetts. From 2000 to 2007, he served as a Senior Program Officer at the Nellie Mae Education Foundation, where he directed a multi-year grantmaking initiative to improve academic achievement, increase college access and support college success for low-income and minority students in New England.

Jay received his B.A. in Political Science from the University of Pennsylvania and his J.D. from Northeastern University School of Law. He is a member of the Grantmakers for Education board of directors and served as chair of that board in 2008-2009.

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