Susan Houghton
Susan Houghton is the founder of Sunflower Hill, a nonprofit creating communities and programs where individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) can thrive. Inspired by her son with autism, she founded the organization in 2013 to develop affordable housing and supportive services. Its flagship community, Sunflower Hill at Irby Ranch, opened in Pleasanton in 2020, with three additional communities in development.
Susan also co-founded Three Valleys Community Foundation and Exceptional Needs Network. With over 20 years in philanthropy, she recently retired from the Livermore Lab Foundation, where she managed energy and carbon management grants. A former television journalist, she held senior communications roles at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, UC Berkeley, Safeway and PG&E.
She holds a BS in Journalism from Cal Poly, an MS in Nonprofit Management from LSU, and is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE).