Dear colleagues,

I am pleased to announce that, after a national search chaired by Energy Technologies Area ALD Mary Ann Piette, I have appointed Jake DeMoe to serve as the president of the Berkeley Lab Foundation and the Lab’s Chief Development Officer. This appointment has been approved by University of California President Michael Drake. Jake’s first day at the Lab will be October 14, 2024.

An alumnus of UC Santa Barbara, Jake is a senior non-profit executive with more than 30 years’ philanthropy experience in the climate, environmental, and academic sectors, including senior roles at the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), the Nature Conservancy (TNC), and UC Berkeley Engineering. He has raised gifts as large as eight figures, and recently played a critical role implementing the fundraising plan for EDF’s MethaneSAT launch.

Most recently at EDF, Jake led a 45-person team in support of raising EDF’s annual budget of more than $300 million. At TNC, he served as director for a statewide campaign that raised more than $700 million towards the organization’s $8 billion global campaign. He has also served in development roles at the Trust for Public Land, KQED, and the California League of Conservation Voters.

During his tenure at EDF, Jake was instrumental in creating the Development Department’s diversity, equity, and inclusion working group, which made significant strides in establishing DEI goals and objectives. The group’s focus was on evolving EDF’s hiring practices, investing in staff growth and development, and addressing psychological safety.

Jake has an impressive track record in fundraising and donor strategy, an ability to build robust and productive cross-functional teams, and strong management skills. Coupled with his well honed science communications skills and his commitment to the Lab’s IDEA principles, he is an ideal candidate for this role.

On behalf of the entire senior leadership team, I want to thank Alicia Chang for serving as the interim president since March and for graciously agreeing to continue in this role until October 11, after which she will resume her role as the Foundation’s vice president. She has done an excellent job of stewarding the Foundation’s mission, and we greatly value her contributions to the Lab’s philanthropic efforts, which advance the mission and science of the Lab.

Please join me in congratulating Jake on his appointment as president of the Berkeley Lab Foundation.

Best regards,

Mike Witherell
Laboratory Director