Brennan is President and CEO at the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation. The Foundation is a grantmaker driving positive, sustainable change in Charlottesville and the surrounding counties. She leads the organization to ensure achievement of its mission, financial viability, and long-term growth and stability.

Prior to her 2018 appointment as President and CEO, Brennan led the Foundation’s grant-funded programs to support critical services, advance systems change, and impact community trends. Her work included designing and managing high-impact programs in food insecurity, maternal and infant health disparities, workforce development, greenway trail networks, and public housing redevelopment. She also managed the Heal Charlottesville Fund that is responding to the violence and terrorism of August 11 and 12, 2017.

Prior to joining the Foundation team, Brennan worked as District Liaison to former 5th District Congressman Tom Perriello. In her role with the Congressman’s office, she led an effort to connect local governments, nonprofits, and community leaders in 22 localities with federal resources. She also helped local leaders develop strategic partnerships and programming to build competitiveness in the region.

Brennan graduated with a degree in philosophy from the University of Iowa. She is a 2001 Ron Brown Scholar and 2001 Davidson Fellow Laureate. She is a 2017 graduate of the Council on Foundations Career Pathways Program. She lives in Charlottesville, Virginia, with her husband and two daughters.