By Tom LeNoble—
Each month, The Philanthropic Mindset explores how we contribute to the lives of others. Philanthropy is not defined by wealth or recognition. It is found in a conversation, an act of kindness, or a moment of encouragement. These simple expressions of care strengthen communities, restore hope, and remind us of our shared humanity.
Jennifer Valles is the Executive Director of the San Francisco LGBT Center and a dedicated LGBTQ+ community leader with more than two decades of advancing anti-violence, environmental justice, and queer liberation. Drawing on her experience as a community organizer, she leads with an intersectional vision that strengthens the center as both a trusted local resource and a national leader in LGBTQ+ liberation. Previously, as Deputy Director, she transformed the center’s core programs to better meet the evolving needs of LGBTQ+ communities.
Tom LeNoble: Before you became an executive director, what shaped your sense of caring for others?
Jennifer Valles: My mother shaped me in many ways, but really my entire family and community did. My aunt helped raise me because my mom worked two jobs while my dad worked full time. We were always there for each other.
I also watched my mom, who is white, advocate fiercely for my brother and me. Seeing someone use her privilege so consistently on behalf of her two brown children was incredibly formative.
I’ve always had a strong sense of justice. Even as a child, I felt drawn toward people who didn’t belong. In high school, I talked about joining the Peace Corps, and my aunt, who was openly living with HIV, said something that changed my perspective: “That’s great, but why leave when there’s so much work to do at home?” I’ve carried those words with me ever since.
Tom LeNoble: When you hear the word philanthropy, what does that word mean to you personally?
Jennifer Valles: It has changed over time. Today, I often find myself frustrated that we rely on individual generosity to solve societal problems. We live in a country with enormous wealth and resources. Access to basic rights, protection, and opportunity shouldn’t depend on whether someone chooses to redistribute their wealth.
At the same time, philanthropy connects me with people who genuinely want to help. As someone once told me, “You’re offering people an opportunity to contribute.”
That idea has stayed with me. Philanthropy becomes a conversation about what each of us has to offer and how we bring those resources together to accomplish something meaningful. We do that work today while continuing to imagine a future where we no longer have to rely on philanthropy to meet basic human needs.
Tom LeNoble: What keeps your optimism alive when the work you do becomes difficult?
Jennifer Valles: Throughout my nonprofit career, we’ve often said we’re working to put ourselves out of a job. We don’t want these services to be necessary forever. While that long-term goal can feel overwhelming, it’s the day-to-day moments that keep me going. When someone tells you a conversation saved their life, that’s enough to remind you why the work matters. I’m also fortunate to be surrounded by people who’ve been doing this work for decades. They remind me how far we’ve come.
Tom LeNoble: What has the work you’re doing today taught you about humanity?
Jennifer Valles: Humanity is incredibly resilient, and that’s both our greatest strength and one of our greatest challenges. We’re adaptable enough to survive extraordinary circumstances, but sometimes we become so accustomed to injustice that we accept things that should never be normal. We begin believing homelessness, violence, or discrimination are simply the way the world works.
I’ve watched people survive unimaginable hardship because of their resilience. I’ve also seen how that same resilience can lead us to tolerate suffering that should never be accepted.
Tom LeNoble: What is unique about doing the work you’re doing in San Francisco?
Jennifer Valles: I was born and raised in Chicago, so people often ask: Why San Francisco? For me, San Francisco has always been a place where movements begin. It has helped lead the LGBTQ+ community forward and inspired change far beyond the city itself. As someone committed to advancing LGBTQ+ equality, this is where I want to be.
I also believe we’re living through a time that calls for radical empathy, radical love, and radical acceptance.
What feels different here is the sense of connection. Even in difficult moments, there’s an understanding that joy belongs alongside the work. That combination of activism, compassion, and community continues to make San Francisco extraordinary.
Tom LeNoble: What have you learned about leadership through the service work you do?
Jennifer Valles: Leadership is about people, not position. It’s about the goal you’re trying to achieve together, not being the person in charge.
Leadership means coordinating, supporting, uplifting, resourcing, listening, and learning. It’s about bringing out the best in the people around you so that together you accomplish something greater than any one person could alone.
Tom LeNoble: What do you hope people will remember about your leadership after you’re long gone?
Jennifer Valles: I hope they look back on this moment and say that, when things became difficult, the center, and everyone doing this work, truly showed up. I hope they remember that organizations came together, collaborated, and created something bigger than themselves.
We’re living through a period that will become an important part of history. I hope our contribution is remembered as helping create a meaningful shift toward a more compassionate and just future.
Tom LeNoble: If philanthropy was a verb instead of a noun, what would it look like?
Jennifer Valles: Love. Giving, at its best, comes from a place of love. Maybe not only for the people receiving it, but for what we could become together.
Tom LeNoble: What do you wish every San Franciscan understood about the people your organization serves?
Jennifer Valles: That we’re simply trying to live our lives. We aren’t asking for anything extraordinary. We want the opportunity to be ourselves without sacrificing our basic rights, our safety, or our dignity. We want to live without fear and build lives where we can thrive.
Tom LeNoble: What keeps you grounded when everything around you feels uncertain?
Jennifer Valles: My people. Connection is what grounds me. No matter what’s happening in the world, the constant is the people I love and the relationships we’ve built. If everything else falls away, we still have one another.
Tom LeNoble: If resources were unlimited for a year, what’s the first thing you would solve?
Jennifer Valles: On a practical level, I’d pay off our building and expand our campus so we could serve more people and provide sanctuary for more organizations. But, thinking bigger, I’d invest in building self-sustaining communities where people have the resources to thrive on their own by creating the conditions where everyone has the opportunity, not just to survive, but to flourish.
Tom LeNoble: What gives you confidence that the next generation will carry the work forward?
Jennifer Valles: I’ve been fortunate to spend time with so many young people through the center, my friends, and my family.
People often criticize younger generations, but I see something different. They care deeply about one another and about the future. They’re growing up in a world facing enormous challenges, yet they’re moving toward greater acceptance, inclusion, and compassion. That gives me hope.
Tom LeNoble: What would surprise people most about you outside of the work you do?
Jennifer Valles: I’m actually an introvert. I love quiet time. I love visiting my partner in Colorado, spending time in the mountains with the dogs, hiking, being surrounded by nature, and simply unplugging. Those quiet moments restore me.
Tom LeNoble: If you suddenly had a day off in San Francisco, where would you go?
Jennifer Valles: Straight to the ocean. Living here, it’s easy to get caught up in routines and forget that one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world is just minutes away. Growing up near the Great Lakes, I’ve always needed to be close to water. I’d spend the day at the ocean, slowing down and remembering why this place is so special.
Tom LeNoble is an international speaker, confidential advisor, and resilience strategist who works with leaders navigating meaningful inflection points in life and leadership. He has held senior leadership roles at MCI, Walmart.com, Palm, and Facebook, and high growth startups. He is the author of the award-winning memoir “My Life in Business Suits, Hospital Gowns, and High Heels.” Through speaking, coaching, and writing, he explores resilience, leadership, and the choices that shape how we show up for others and for the communities we serve.
The Philanthropic Mindset
Published on July 30, 2026
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