LAPF Welcomes New Deputy Director

The Los Angeles Parks Foundation (LAPF) is excited to announce the hiring of Crystal Tsoi as its new Deputy Director. With over a decade of experience in public service and a deep passion for community engagement, Crystal brings valuable expertise and leadership to advance the Foundation’s mission of enhancing, expanding, preserving, and promoting public recreation, parks, and open spaces for the diverse communities of Los Angeles. Los Angeles Parks Foundation’s work to conserve and beautify LA’s city parks is more important than ever with environmental and population challenges along with major upcoming events on the horizon for Los Angeles — from 2026 World Cup Soccer, 2027 Baseball All-Star Game and 2028 Olympic Games — which are all set to draw international crowds and will be showcasing the best of the City.

“The selection process was valuable to have an exceptional pool of over 300 applicants to help grow the important work of our non-profit,” said LAPF President and CEO, Tony Budrovich. “Looking for strong character, a natural collaborator and a person who values the diverse population of Los Angeles Crystal seemed a natural fit.  Crystal will help enhance parks, programs, and open spaces of Los Angeles, while working with the City of Los Angeles and Recreation and Parks staff to support a great city.”

Crystal previously served as Deputy Director of the Donor Services Department at NEO Philanthropy, Inc., where she specialized in organizational management and development for a diverse portfolio of nonprofits. In this role, she provided strategic support to strengthen operations, manage donor relationships, and drive impact across multiple projects. Most recently, she worked as a Grants Management Consultant with the Alliance for Youth Organizing.

After securing a BA in Political Science from the University of Chicago, Crystal found her way to philanthropy as a Program Associate at the John A. Hartford Foundation where she facilitated the grantmaking process along with managing the program evaluation process, enabling over 50 ongoing aging and health grants and their respective deliverables. During this period, she also completed an MPA degree from New York University’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. Crystal was part of the school’s award-winning consulting team that worked with New York City’s Department of Consumer Affairs tasked to evaluate and recommend new policies to better promote New York City’s Free Tax Prep program to the community at large.

“I’m excited to bring my background in nonprofit leadership, fundraising, and relationship-building to the Los Angeles Parks Foundation,” said Crystal. “Growing up just down the street from Echo Park instilled in me a lifelong love of public spaces and showed me how parks can be a place of refuge, connection, and inspiration.”

When she assumes the role November 12, 2024, Crystal will play a critical role in supporting the President and CEO in overall leadership and fundraising for the Foundation. She will help oversee policy, finances, communications, management, Board, donor development, programs, and operations. The Deputy Director takes the primary role for events, with engagement of the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks (RAP) Assistant General Managers, Superintendents and Public Affairs office. LAPF Board, Recreations and Parks Commissioners and City Council offices are another primary focus area for the Deputy Director. The Deputy Director will have regular field work within the Los Angeles community. With only 63% of Angelenos living within a 10-minute walk of a park, expanding access remains a key priority for LAPF and the organization will be pivotal in raising the resources needed to enhance parks across the city.

Outside space enhances a community, improving Los Angeles for all Angelenos. In sixteen years, the Foundation has raised over $47 million toward its mission.

For more information or to donate, please visit www.laparksfoundation.org