LaShanda Maze is the Chief Development Officer at the Community Action Partnership of Orange County (CAP OC). In this role, she is responsible for coordinating the agency’s efforts to secure federal, state, and local grant funding, as well as private donations, which support pivotal programs, such as the OC Food Bank, OC Diaper Bank, multiple community-based family resource centers, and the nonprofit’s numerous wraparound services. Prior to joining CAP OC, LaShanda held fundraising and communication roles with Meals on Wheels West, New Directions for Veterans, and Imagine LA, which works to prevent homelessness. She brings her diverse skillset in fundraising, brand management, media, and communications to her new role on the board of IHO which she joined in 2023. 

Why did you choose to serve with IHO? “As someone who grew up in affordable housing and experienced the benefits of it firsthand, I know what it’s like to have my life transformed for the better. There are so many local families that cannot find affordable housing in Southern California, and these are folks that have often spent their entire lives here. We know this is a pathway out of poverty and I’m passionate about the bigger picture: affordable housing can be transformational.”