Unique insight, practical skill, intellectual curiosity, a passion for people and progress, a sense of humor… these are characteristics that Tobi Inlender brings to her clients. As an advisor to philanthropists, non-profits and social innovators she offers sensitivity to nuance, understanding of the big picture and a commitment to excellence.
Tobi has extensive experience assisting individuals and organizations to define and realize their vision, and significant hands-on practice facilitating the changes needed to do so. Her background includes program and policy work in higher education, K-12 public education, conflict resolution, human services, community and intergroup relations, and Jewish communal affairs.
Tobi served as executive director of the Center for Civic Mediation, providing mediation and conflict resolution and education services to communities and schools throughout Los Angeles County. Prior to joining the Center for Civic Mediation, Tobi was UCLA’s assistant vice chancellor for external affairs and executive director of The UCLA Foundation. She directed strategic planning, policy development, human resources and oversight of the department responsible for the university’s multi-dimensional relations with a wide range of external constituencies. She facilitated and oversaw the reconfiguration of the university’s external relations units (development, communications, government and community relations, alumni affairs, finance and information management) and its multiple volunteer support groups, including the board and committees of The UCLA Foundation. Prior to moving to the Foundation Tobi served as assistant dean for external affairs at UCLA’s Graduate School of Education & Information Studies.
Tobi also has extensive experience working in the Jewish community. At the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles she oversaw policy, planning and allocations for social services, designing and implementing allocations and grant review processes. She also served as director of urban affairs and education for the Federation’s Community Relations Committee. As executive director of Los Angeles Hillel Council, she guided a multi-faceted, multi-site organization that serves thousands of Southern California college students through a transition to a decentralized structure, budget and governance process.
A graduate of UCLA with a B.A. in political science, Tobi holds an M.A. from the Hebrew Union College (HUC) Zelikow School of Jewish Nonprofit Management, where she received the Mariana Pfaelzer Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement. She has taught organizational dynamics and fundraising courses at HUC and at the Nonprofit MBA program of the American Jewish University.