SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — Equality California, the nation’s largest statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, announced a new member of its senior leadership team on Monday.
Joe Sangirardi will serve as Equality California’s new Development Director based in San Francisco. He replaces the outgoing Sarah Morrow Chwe, who joined the organization in 2021.
Sangirardi is an experienced nonprofit fundraiser who has worked for large national LGBTQ+ organizations and statewide advocacy organizations in California. Prior to joining Equality California, Sangirardi served as Director of Development at California YIMBY. He also previously served in various development leadership roles at both the Human Rights Campaign and the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, helping raise millions of dollars in the fight for full, lived equality.
Sangirardi also currently sits on the San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee, winning his seat in March 2024, in addition to serving on the executive committee for the Alice B. Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club. Originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma, Joe earned a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Oklahoma and currently lives in the greater Castro neighborhood with his husband, Jeff.
“We are thrilled to welcome Joe to our leadership team as we continue our mission to achieve full, lived LGBTQ+ equality in California and beyond,” said Executive Director Tony Hoang. “He will help ensure that we have the resources we need to defend our community amidst unprecedented attacks on the civil rights of LGBTQ+ people nationwide. We’ve had the pleasure of working with Joe in multiple capacities, and we look forward to the wealth of knowledge and experience he will bring to our organization. Equality California is immensely grateful to Sarah Morrow Chwe for her unwavering dedication and years of service to our mission and organization. Her leadership has been instrumental in expanding our base of support and securing critical resources to fuel the fight for full, lived equality for all LGBTQ+ people.”
“We are thrilled to welcome Joe to our leadership team as we continue our mission to achieve full, lived LGBTQ+ equality in California and beyond,” said Executive Director Tony Hoang. “He will help ensure that we have the resources we need to defend our community amidst unprecedented attacks on the civil rights of LGBTQ+ people nationwide. We’ve had the pleasure of working with Joe in multiple capacities, and we look forward to the wealth of knowledge and experience he will bring to our organization.
Equality California is immensely grateful to Sarah Morrow Chwe for her unwavering dedication and years of service to our mission and organization. Her leadership has been instrumental in expanding our base of support and securing critical resources to fuel the fight for full, lived equality for all LGBTQ+ people.”
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Equality California is the nation’s largest statewide LGBTQ civil rights organization. We bring the voices of LGBTQ people and allies to institutions of power in California and across the United States, striving to create a world that is healthy, just, and fully equal for all LGBTQ people. We advance civil rights and social justice by inspiring, advocating and mobilizing through an inclusive movement that works tirelessly on behalf of those we serve. www.eqca.org
