ACF Sedona Welcomes New Leader: Sheri Denny Takes the Helm

Sheri Denny has been appointed as the new Regional Director for the Arizona Community Foundation (ACF) of Sedona, effective June 14. She succeeds Jennifer Perry, who transitioned to the role of Vice President of Regional Impact and moved to Phoenix earlier this year.

Jennifer Perry joined ACF in 2019. She has been a long-time resident of Sedona and expressed gratitude for raising her family in the area. “My girls went all through red rock schools,” Perry said. “But for my husband’s job, he travels quite a bit, and he flies out of [Phoenix]. So it’s important that we’re both living in a place that works for both of us.”

In her new role, Perry oversees all ACF operations outside Maricopa County. “I’m sad to go, but I’m so happy that I’m leaving it in really great hands with Sheri,” Perry said. She praised the Sedona and Verde Valley communities for their incredible generosity and volunteer spirit.

Sheri Denny began her journey with ACF at the Prescott office in May 2021 as a regional philanthropic advisor before moving to Sedona later that year. Denny holds an MBA from San Diego State University and a bachelor’s degree in government from New Mexico State University. She is also a certified nonprofit professional.

Denny shared insights from her diverse background, including her upbringing in Germany and her career in contracts and grants management. Her father, a U.S. Army judge advocate general, and her mother, a former teacher turned real estate agent, have influenced her leadership style. “That ties into how I lead my life, with integrity, and kind of tell it like it is, but diplomatically,” Denny noted.

Denny has been married for 29 years to her husband Mike, whom she met at New Mexico State University. They have a daughter, Katelyn, who is a sophomore studying chemical engineering at the University of Washington. The couple currently enjoys their life as empty nesters, attributing their relationship’s success to “lots of laughter [and] lots of love.”

In addition to the leadership change, ACF has unveiled a new three-year strategic plan inspired by Willie Pietersen’s strategic learning process. The plan focuses on three main areas: education, housing, and the environment.

“Jennifer has created a tremendous foundation here, and I’m looking to continue her legacy of positivity and inclusion,” Denny said. “[I’m] humbled and grateful to be in this position, and for those that came before me for laying the pathway. I’m already inspired by the fraction of the community that I’ve met, their generosity and selflessness.”