Our Team
Education is not the learning of facts, but the training of the mind to think.
-Albert Einstein
Juliet Buder
Executive Director
Juliet@bsfdn.org
Juliet Buder joined the Bellevue Schools Foundation in 2021, bringing with her a proven track record of expanding educational access through transformative philanthropy, nationally and internationally.
Originally from Virginia, Juliet graduated from Duke University with a degree in Public Policy and went on to learn the art and science of fundraising at Equal Justice Works, a legal nonprofit in Washington, D.C. After earning her Master’s in Social Work, Juliet devoted her career to developing strategic partnerships for public, private, and community-based organizations committed to closing the opportunity gap. She has had roles of increasing responsibility at nonprofits in Washington, D.C. and New York City, including Thurgood Marshall Academy Public Charter High School, Ethical Culture Fieldston School, Oliver Scholars, and Abaarso Network. Juliet’s leadership of the Bellevue Schools Foundation harnesses private support to secure a world-class education for all students in Bellevue’s public schools, regardless of socioeconomic status.
Michael Smith
Development Director
Michael@bsfdn.org
Michael Smith joined Bellevue Schools Foundation in September 2021. A career educator, he brings a passion to provide the best opportunities and to pursue the best outcomes for all students.
Michael started his career in education serving as the director of fine arts programs at both the graduate and undergraduate level. His desire to provide the best opportunities for his students led him to fundraising, writing and managing successful industry grants. He also earned a Fulbright grant to teach and advise at the Red Sea Institute of Cinematic Arts in Jordan. Additionally, Michael served as the head of a private Pre-K to 12th grade school. He earned a doctorate in educational leadership from UCLA, where his dissertation examined the relationship between Black graduation rates and various institutional characteristics at colleges and universities. He is eager to collaborate with community partners in their philanthropic support of our students.
Mindy Richardson
Finance Director
Mindy@bsfdn.org
Mindy started her career in public accounting, doing both audit and tax work as a Certified Public Accountant. More recently, she transitioned to non-profit accounting and serves as the Finance and Operations Director for the Bellevue Schools Foundation.. She has also done some accounting and consulting for other local nonprofits.
Mindy grew up in Montana and graduated Summa Cum Laude from Carroll College, majoring in Accounting with minors in Mathematics, Computer Science, and Business Administration.
Deborah Grover
Marketing and Community Engagement Manager
Deb@bsfdn.org
Deborah Grover joined Bellevue Schools Foundation with a deep commitment to enhancing community and family well-being. With a background in business, education, and marketing, Deborah brings a passion for fostering connections and supporting student success. Most recently she was the Marketing and Outreach Director for the Community of Mindful Parenting, where she facilitated programs focused on mental health and emotional well-being.
Her dedication to community service led her to serve for nine years on the Bellevue Schools Foundation board of trustees, where she chaired the grantmaking committee and played a key role in various community initiatives. Deborah’s entrepreneurial spirit is evident in her founding of Bellysock, a maternity apparel company, and co-founding Grover Ventures, a real estate investment company.
Deborah holds a bachelor’s degree in Writing and Psychology from the University of Puget Sound and an MBA from Seattle University. She is eager to collaborate with community partners to advance the Foundation's mission.
Christy Minteer
Executive Coordinator
Christy@bsfdn.org
Christy has been a Bellevue School District (BSD) employee for two decades. She has been an active volunteer with PTSA, receiving a Golden Acorn for her work. She has been very involved in volunteer work for the BSD, negotiating the AISP classified staff contract for ten years and serving as a Bellevue Association of Education Office professional board member or officer for the past 14 years.
She grew up in the Tri-Cities and received her BA from Washington State University studying International Relations. She obtained a post-graduate Para-Legal Certificate from the University of San Diego School of Law and worked as a litigation Para-Legal for 12 years before starting at BSD in 1999.
Radhika Penugonda
Development Manager
Radhika@bsfdn.org
Radhika has worked in both profit and non-profit organizations in the fields of administration and customer service. She is a recipient of the Golden Acorn Award for her contributions to the Cherry Crest PTSA and is also a BSF Ambassador at her daughter’s school.
She is a graduate in commerce and has a higher diploma in software engineering. She grew up in Chennai, in the southern part of India, and moved to the United States in 2006.