Linda L. Katz
Social/Civic Activist
Equity and justice are the core values that drive Linda Katz’s passions.
As a full-time community volunteer and social/civic activist for more than four decades, Linda is passionate about supporting the most vulnerable populations of women and girls.
Linda is the Founding President of The San Diego Women’s Foundation and Co-Founder of Women Give San Diego. Having been involved with Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest for 40+ years, she is committed to ensuring broad public access to sexual and reproductive health care through direct service, education, and advocacy.
Linda is actively engaged in working with organizations that advance the economic security of the most vulnerable populations of women and girls in our community, in particular, United Women of East Africa Support Team, UWEAST and Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest. Linda currently serves on the Advisory Councils of Salaam Youth and Community Center and San Diego Center for Children.
As a 1990 graduate of LEAD San Diego IMPACT, Linda is also a past Board Chair LEAD San Diego. She has also served as Chair for Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest, Serving Seniors, and Rady Children’s Hospital Auxiliary. Additional past Board service includes San Diego Foundation, Rady Children’s Hospital Foundation, United Way of San Diego County, Junior League of San Diego, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, Francis Parker School, and San Diego Symphony.
Linda has served as Chair and Co-Chair of many milestone charitable events in the San Diego community including: San Diego Center for Children Anniversary 133rd Anniversary Celebration, Barrio Logan College Institute’s Opportunity for Impact Annual Fundraiser, the 90th Anniversary Charity Ball benefitting Rady Children's Hospital, San Diego Foundation’s 25th Anniversary Gala, Junior League’s Encore, Girl Scouts' 10th Anniversary Urban Campout, and San Diego Symphony’s New Year’s Eve Gala. She also served as Honorary Chair for the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) National Philanthropy Day 2013-2014.
Linda has received numerous awards including LEAD San Diego’s Neil Morgan Memorial Lifetime Achievement Award, Women’s Empowerment International 2024 Woman of Empowerment, Planned Parenthood’s ‘Margaret Sanger Award,’ LEAD San Diego’s ‘Graduate of the Year’ Award, Rady Children’s Hospital Auxiliary’s Distinguished Service Award, Junior League’s ‘Spirit of Volunteerism Award.’ San Diego Magazine’s ‘Community Volunteer of the Year’ Award, Serving Seniors’ ‘Advocacy Hero Award,’ Girl Scouts’ ‘Cool Woman Award,’ and the Association of Fundraising Professional’s ‘Development Volunteer of the Year Award.’ Linda and her husband, Mel, received the San Diego Rotary Club 2017 Mr. and Mrs. San Diego Award.
Linda and Mel have been married for 47 years and live in Del Mar. They have three adult children, Lindsey, Ashley and Jeffrey, and five grandchildren, Nicole, Noah, Donovan, JoJo, and Evander.
