Cynthia Weingard serves as the Executive Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations at Samuel Merritt University. She brings nearly 30 years of experience securing funding for nonprofits dedicated to youth development, hunger, and access to higher education. Previously, Cindy served as the executive director of corporate, foundation and government relations. Prior to Dominican, Cynthia was development director at Big Brothers Big Sisters of the North Bay, Sterne School, and Los Angeles Regional Foodbank. Her experience includes: donor relations/stewardship, grants management, collaboration building, budget development, major gifts/special event fundraising, strategic planning, and team oversight. 

In her position at Dominican, Cynthia and her team set and implement the strategy for securing gift and grant commitments from corporations, foundations, and government agencies to support the annual operating, scholarship endowment, and capital needs of the University. Additionally, she speaks to groups on and off campus, volunteers for local nonprofits, and served as a consultant for an NGO in Buenos Aires, Argentina.