Escondido Charitable Foundation Announces Grants Available to Strengthen Community Through Environmental Action

About A.J. Steinberg, CFRE

With over 20 years’ experience as a nonprofit event producer and engagement strategist, A.J. Steinberg, CFRE has worked on over 100 successful events and raised millions of dollars for organizations with her Los Angeles-based production company.

A.J.’s team has produced almost every type of fundraising event, including intimate high net-worth donor gatherings, galas, festivals, and fashion shows.

In 2015 A.J. launched Queen Bee Fundraising to share the art and science of nonprofit event planning, sponsorship acquisition, and engagement strategies with organizations worldwide. She is a recognized topic expert and trainer, and presents on subjects such as nonprofit event planning, event sponsorships, committee and volunteer leadership, generational giving, fundraising, and guest engagement.

About Nathan Chappell, MBA, MNA, CFRE

As a thought leader, public speaker, author and AI inventor, Nathan is one of the world’s foremost experts on the intersection of Artificial Intelligence and generosity. His recently published award-winning book, The Generosity Crisis; the Case for Radical Connection to Solve Humanity’s Greatest Challenges has been dubbed as “Required reading for our generation of professionals in the nonprofit sector” by NonProfit Pro. Nathan serves as Chief AI Officer at Virtuous Software.  In 2019, he founded Fundraising.AI, an advocacy organization focused on the Responsible and Beneficial use of AI for the global fundraising community. He is co-host of the weekly Fundraising.AI podcast, one of the top nonprofit technology podcasts globally.

Nathan is regularly featured in publications such as Forbes, Fast Company, the Chronicle of Philanthropy, AFP Advance, AHP Journal, and Citibank Global among others.    

Nathan serves as an advisor for the OpenAI Users Forum, the AI for Good Foundation, the International Committee for Information Technology Standards (INCITS), and the Forbes Technology Council. He holds a Masters in Nonprofit Administration from University of Notre Dame, an MBA from University of Redlands, a certificate in International Economics from University of Cambridge, a certificate in Artificial Intelligence from MIT, a certificate in Philanthropic Psychology from the Institute of Sustainable Philanthropy and is a certified fundraising executive (CFRE). 

About Mallory Erickson

Mallory Erickson is the founder and CEO of Practivated, an executive coach, fundraising consultant, and host of the What the Fundraising podcast. She is dedicated to transforming the nonprofit sector by helping fundraisers move beyond transactional approaches to build lasting, mission-aligned partnerships.

Through her Power Partners Formula, Mallory has trained over 60,000 fundraisers, blending executive coaching, behavior design, and strategic fundraising. Her book, What the Fundraising, explores how shifting away from a scarcity mindset leads to greater impact and sustainability.

At Practivated, which Mallory founded in 2024, she continues to drive innovation in fundraising through technology, coaching, and science-backed strategies. If you’re ready to fundraise with confidence and alignment, Mallory’s work is for you.

About Mark A. Stuart, CFRE

A fundraising and community-building professional for nearly 30 years, Mark Stuart has devoted his career to helping donors realize their hopes, dreams and aspirations.

Since joining San Diego Foundation as President and CEO in May 2019, SDF has grown its assets to $1.5 billion. Under Mark’s leadership, SDF raised and deployed $67 million for COVID-19 relief efforts and in its most recent fiscal year granted a record $150 million.

During Mark’s tenure, SDF has launched a new strategic plan and vision for just, equitable and resilient communities, and has been named a Top Work Place by The San Diego Union-Tribune four years running.

Before joining SDF, Mark managed a staff of 64 and a budget of $14 million at San Diego Zoo Global (SDZG). He led SDZG’s first-ever comprehensive fundraising campaign, raising $530 million.

Mark serves on the Board of Directors for Certified Fundraising Executives International, the League of California Community Foundations, San Diego Regional Policy and Innovation Center and San Diego Symphony Foundation.

About Alison Ohanian

Allison Ohanian serves as the Associate Vice President of Gift Planning and Donor Development at the University of Hawai’i Foundation. In this role, she assists donors interested in supporting charitable initiatives across the University of Hawai’i System and acts as a subject matter expert on complex giving vehicles, particularly those involving non-cash assets. Passionate about education and empowerment, Allison is dedicated to helping individuals navigate the intricacies of gift and charitable planning. Before joining the University of Hawai’i Foundation, Allison held the position of Senior Director of Planned Giving and Estates at San Diego State University, bringing over 15 years of expertise to her current role.

She is a Certified Specialist in Planned Giving and holds a Master of Public Administration from California State University, Long Beach, as well as a Bachelor of Arts from the University of San Diego. An active leader in her field, Allison is a past president of the San Diego Planned Giving Partnership and currently serves as a board member of the Hawaii Gift Planning Council.

About Beth Branning

Beth Branning founded Branning Strategies to help nonprofit organizations, associations, and foundations to realize their potential by facilitating their strategic planning efforts. Branning Strategies also assists nonprofit executives and boards by facilitating outcome-driven retreats and workshops. Recent clients have included the San Diego Foundation, the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara, the Community Foundation of San Luis Obispo County, The Marafiki Center, and the Policy and Innovation Center.

Before launching Branning Strategies, Beth Branning served as the Chief Strategy Officer and Corporate Director of Vision, Innovation and Strategy at San Diego Zoo Global (SDZG) for 15 years. She is certified as a Strategic Management Professional (SMP), which is the top certification offered by the Association for Strategic Planning (ASP). She is the author of The Call: The Strategic Plan That Empowered San Diego Zoo Global To Lead The Fight Against Extinction.

About Cesar Boc

Cesar Boc is a passionate fundraiser in the philanthropic space, a fearless leader, and a firm believer in healing and restorative justice for Latine communities. Cesar, a Guatemalan Mayan Kaqchikel immigrant, was raised in Long Island, New York, has deep roots in grassroots organizing and community lawyering, and is an avid learner of religious and holistic approaches to healing our communities. Currently, Cesar serves as the Deputy Director of Organizational Giving at Hispanics in Philanthropy, a transnational nonprofit organization that advances Latine causes, where he leads the fundraising pipeline from private foundations. Previously, he managed fundraising at the Center for Migration Studies and Legal Outreach in New York. He has organized immigrant workers in multiple states and is committed to empowering Latinx immigrant communities through fundraising and philanthropic spaces.

Cesar obtained an MA in Human Rights and Theology from Boston College and a BA from St. John’s University. Cesar is an avid soccer fan whose favorite team is FC Barcelona. He enjoys cooking, running, and walking his two dogs and is a self-proclaimed lover of literature.

About Hannah Berger

Hannah provides coaching and consulting derived from 20+ years of experience as a professional fundraiser, non-profit executive, campaign consultant and board member. Hannah has proudly supported dozens of nonprofit organizations in raising more than $150M and counting. She specializes in major expansion campaigns, board recruitment and development, strategic development planning and executive coaching. In 2024, Hannah was named a Leader of Influence: Nonprofit & Philanthropy by the Los Angeles Business Journal. When Hannah is not coaching and consulting, she serves the sector as a Certified Trainer for Fundraising Academy and volunteers with the Association of Fundraising Professionals Global IDEA committee and on the Board of Directors for her hometown AFP Chapter of Greater Los Angeles.

About Karen Boyd, Ph.D.

Karen Boyd, Ph.D. is an economist and the Director of Research at the San Diego Regional Policy and Innovation Center. In this role, she is responsible for developing, executing, and sharing actionable, equity-focused research on the region’s most pressing economic, social, and environmental problems.

She has published and presented research on artificial intelligence and the future of work in a variety of top-tier academic venues and was an editor for JASIST’s Special Issue on “Artificial Intelligence and Work.”

Karen earned her Ph.D. from the University of Maryland, College Park (2020), where she studied ethics in the curation of training data for machine learning models. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Michigan School of Information, studying the ethical implications of automated emotion recognition algorithms designed for use in the workplace. She also has an MBA from the Rady School of Management at the University of California, San Diego (2011) and a bachelor’s degree from San Diego State University.

About Priya Parker

Priya Parker is helping us take a deeper look at how anyone can create collective meaning in modern life, one gathering at a time. She is a facilitator, strategic advisor, acclaimed author of The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why it Matters, the executive producer and host of the New York Times podcast, Together Apart, and the host of The Art of Gathering Digital Course. Parker has spent 20 years helping leaders and communities have complicated conversations about community and identity and vision at moments of transition. Trained in the field of conflict resolution, Parker has worked on race relations on American college campuses and on peace processes in the Arab world, southern Africa, and India.

Parker is a founding member of the Sustained Dialogue Campus Network. She studied organizational design at M.I.T., public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School, and political and social thought at the University of Virginia.

Parker’s The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters (Riverhead, 2018) has been named a Best Business Book of the year by Amazon, Esquire Magazine, NPR, the Financial Times, 1-800-CEO-READS and Bloomberg. She has spoken on the TED Main Stage, and her TEDx talk on purpose has been viewed over 3 million times. Parker’s work has been featured in numerous outlets including the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, NPR, TED.com, Forbes.com, Real Simple Magazine, Oprah.com, Bloomberg, Glamour, the Today Show and Morning Joe. She lives in Brooklyn, NY with her husband, Anand Giridharadas , and their two children.

About Jarrett R. Ransom, MBA

Jarrett R. Ransom, MBA, is a Certified Trainer for Fundraising Academy and best known as the Nonprofit Nerd. Based in Phoenix, AZ, Jarrett founded her consulting firm in 2009, working exclusively with nonprofits nationwide. As President and CEO of The Rayvan Group, Jarrett specializes in strategic planning, interim leadership, and fractional fundraising support, helping organizations build long-term sustainability and resilience. She guides nonprofits in developing multi-year strategic plans, ensuring they not only meet their immediate needs but also establish a roadmap for 3, 5, or even 10 years into the future. Through interim leadership, she provides stability during transitions, steering organizations with experienced guidance to maintain momentum and mission alignment. With fractional fundraising support, she helps nonprofits strengthen their development strategies, maximize donor engagement, and secure critical funding. Under her leadership, teams across the country raise millions annually to support and sustain their missions.

She has successfully worked with nonprofits ranging from startups to multi-million-dollar organizations, creating sustainable fundraising strategies that fuel their impact. Jarrett is also the host of Nonprofit Nerd: Impact Unleashed, a podcast exploring wellness, leadership, and best practices with nonprofit professionals nationwide. Additionally, she brings her expertise as a host and emcee to nonprofit events, supporting fundraising efforts that drive meaningful change.

About Kara Robertson

Kara Robertson is a nationally recognized nonprofit strategist and founder of Prism Philanthropy, where she helps mission-driven organizations unlock funding and scale impact. With nearly 20 years of experience, Kara has raised over $40 million across sectors like education, health, and the arts—specializing in capital campaigns, major gifts, and high-stakes grants.

She’s secured transformational funding from top institutions, including:

• $3M – AdventHealth $750K – Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
• $387K – National Endowment for the Humanities
• $250K – Pabst Steinmetz Foundation
• $1M under consideration from Pivotal Ventures (Melinda Gates Foundation)

A trusted thought leader, Kara teaches 1,500+ students on Udemy, mentors graduate students at UCF and was recently featured on the Bloomerang blog for innovative donor engagement. She also led the Opera Orlando Gala 2024, delivering the highest net revenue in its history. Her work blends data-driven strategy, AI-powered grant prospecting, and deep donor insights—and she dedicates 20+ hours monthly to pro bono consulting for nonprofits in need.

About Ken Miller

Ken Miller, CFRE is a dynamic trainer, speaker, author and consultant. As the president of Denali FSP Fundraising & Grant Consultants, he leads transformative fundraising strategies, empowering nonprofits across all sectors. Ken’s workshops, such as “Making the Ask with Confidence” and “Digital/Online & Social Media for Fundraising Success,” are tailored to deliver practical, actionable insights for fundraising professionals. Recognized for his dynamic speaking style, he engages audiences with his deep knowledge of fundraising best practices, major donor relations, and nonprofit leadership, ensuring participants leave equipped for impactful outcomes. In addition to his role as a consultant, Ken is an AFP Faculty Trainer and is a former AFP Global Board Member (AFP), African-American Development Officers (AADO) Board Member and the co-founder of Men of Color in Development (MOCID). Ken is dedicated mentor to young professionals, bringing a personal commitment to education and empowerment. With a strong focus on resilience, Ken’s own journey from recovery to professional success underscores his keynotes on topics such as “Resilience in the Face of the Known & Unknown.” Known for his commitment to nonprofit excellence and ethical standards, Ken combines his love for teaching, mentorship, and community impact into every speaking and teaching engagement, leaving a lasting impression on all who attend.

About Lety Martinez Hermosillo

As Vice President of Philanthropy, Lety Martinez leads the planning, development, and implementation of all communications, marketing and fundraising activities across the organization. She stewards ICF’s relationship within Mexican foundation networks and has helped ICF earn recognition as key funder for Mexican organizations. She magnifies the culture of philanthropy across ICF staff and board members.

Lety was awarded Outstanding Development Professional of the Year 2021 by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) San Diego Chapter and was selected as 2023 San Diego Magazine’s Nonprofit Rising Star.

She joined the International Community Foundation in August 2017 as the Marketing & Development Manager.

Lety has over 12 years of experience successfully fundraising and stewarding donor relations for several Mexican nonprofit organizations. Prior to joining ICF, Lety served as the Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Club of Tijuana. She was previously Youth Program and Fundraising Director for Centro de Formación Humana and a Social Investment Director for Fundación Dibujando un Mañana. Lety has also served as a volunteer in Budapest, Hungary at Szent Benedek Iskola and the Regnum Christi.

Lety is a graduate of Universidad Anáhuac México Norte where she received a Master of Family Sciences for Counseling, and she is certificated in Non-Profit Management by United Way Mexico and USAID. Previously she earned her B.A. in International Business from Instituto Tecnológico de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM) Campus San Luis. She also holds a Master Degree in Nonprofit Leadership and Management at the University of San Diego.

Lety’s devoted to the growth and sustainability of Mexican nonprofits. She is a proud Mexican living in San Diego, where she enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with her family. She is also a Human Rights and LGBTQIA+ advocate.

About Michele Wray Khateri, CFRE

Michele Wray Khateri is the Director of Fundraising & Strategic Initiatives for Blueprint, a real estate development nonprofit that provides facility solutions for charter schools in California, Colorado, Texas, and Washington. She has worked as a fundraising professional at education, human rights, and social service nonprofits and has served communities in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, New York, New Jersey as well as in Europe and the Middle East. Michele is an active volunteer in the fundraising profession, currently serving as Immediate Past President of the Greater San Fernando Valley chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and having presented at conferences for Fundraising Academy and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) in the U.S. and the Middle East. Michele holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Scandinavian Studies from UC Berkeley and a Masters in International Affairs with a focus on Human Rights from the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University.

About Muhi Khwaja, MPA, CFRE

Earning a Bachelor’s in History and Psychology from the University of Michigan-Dearborn in 2009, Muhi Khwaja didn’t know what to do until the summer before graduating. The Development Summer Internship Program at the University of Michigan sparked an interest in fundraising (development) as a career. After working with several nonprofit organizations, he earned his Master’s in Public Administration in 2013, from U-M, specializing in nonprofit management.

Muhi has over 15 years of experience as a development professional with several nonprofits (Institute for Social Policy and Understanding, Ta’leef Collective, American Red Cross, and The MAVEN Project) all ranging from one person development teams to leading a development team which all led to his founding the American Muslim Community Foundation.

Muhi is currently the Chief Development Officer at the AMCF and serves as a Trainer for Fundraising Academy. In 2016 he became a Certified Fund Raising Executive from the Association of Fundraising Professionals and in 2017 earned a Certificate of Fund Raising Management from Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy where he is also Adjunct Faculty. In 2020, Muhi earned a Nonprofit Management Executive Certificate from Georgetown University. In 2024 Muhi received his Executive Certificate in Religious Fundraising from Indiana University. He resides in Tampa, Florida operating Nonprofit Solutions, LLC and enjoys riding his motorcycle, photography, and hiking.

About Rebecca Nelson

Rebecca Nelson is a Vice President with Netzel Grigsby Associates who is passionate about supporting nonprofit organizations in achieving their fundraising goals and fostering sustainable donor and volunteer relationships. Rebecca has the heart of a teacher and works to empower her clients to develop the strategic plans, relationships, and resources they need to help them have their greatest impact. A Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) and Certified Planned Giving Associate (CPGA), Rebecca brings over 12 years of development experience to her role. She has worked with a diverse range of nonprofits, providing expertise in fund development and organizational growth. Rebecca’s strategic mindset, innovative problem-solving skills, and commitment to community impact make her a valuable partner to the organizations she serves. Prior to joining NGA, Rebecca primarily worked with faith-based organizations, human services organizations, and educational institutions. She has experience launching a new development office; leading efforts to raise $14 million for a successful capital campaign; guiding annual fundraising campaigns; securing over $1 million in annual grants; reviving legacy societies; personalizing planned gifts; and coordinating large-scale donor, volunteer and community events. Rebecca holds a master’s degree in education and a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies from California State University, Fullerton.

About Richard Tollefson

Richard Tollefson established Phoenix Philanthropy in 2004 after a successful career in fundraising and advancement management. Prior to starting Phoenix Philanthropy, Richard served as vice president for institutional advancement at his alma mater, Thunderbird School of Global Management. At Thunderbird, he managed two comprehensive fundraising campaigns, raising funds and managing constituent engagement programs in 26 countries, including a commitment that became the largest naming gift to a college or school of business in the world at that time. Richard transformed Thunderbird’s alumni association into a global professional association, created a corporate relationship management structure to generate revenue and manage relationships across all parts of the institution, and managed conferences, seminars, and events around the world. Throughout his career, Richard successfully guided many other acclaimed arts, culture, and educational institutions, including Master Chorale of Orange County, The Joffrey Ballet, the University of Arizona, and Arizona State University.

The Phoenix Philanthropy Group partners with organizations and individuals to build the strategies and resources to optimize their impact on our global society. We do so by providing strategic, outcomes-driven revenue generation, constituent relations, strategic planning, and organizational development services that help our clients fulfill their missions and achieve their goals. Our firm has served more than 215 clients in education, human and community services, arts and culture, healthcare, social justice, and the environment in the Southwest and around the world.

About Sean Briner

Sean Briner, Director of Annual Giving Programs, has been part of the University Advancement division at California State University San Marcos for 14 years and higher education for more than 25 years. In the Office of Annual Giving, he manages philanthropic outreach to alumni, employees, parents, students, and friends of the university. He has led all ten years of the university’s day of giving, CSUSM Giving Day, for which the university has received CASE District VII Circle of Excellence Awards in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2023, and 2024. The annual Dibs Employee Giving Campaign was also recognized in 2024 with the CASE Circle of Excellence Global Award. Sean holds a B.A. in Education/Journalism from The Ohio State University and an M.A. in Education from Xavier University. He earned a Certificate in Fund Raising Management from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University and has served as a CASE District VII volunteer for eight years. He currently serves as the CASE District VII Cabinet chair elect. His favorite part of the job is helping campus partners large and small raise funds that better help students succeed.

About Shantel Suárez Ávila

Shantel Suárez Ávila, the proud daughter of Mexican immigrant parents, is a Chicago native turned Escondido, CA resident, dog mom, garden steward, yoga practitioner, and passionate nature adventurer. As the Founder and Principal Strategist of Más Allá—Spanish for “beyond”—she leads a community-centered, values-driven fundraising consulting firm dedicated to advancing equity and justice by closing funding gaps and raising critical resources for and with women and Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities across the U.S. A champion of transformative change, Shantel also co-stewards the Community-Centric Fundraising San Diego Chapter, collaborating to challenge traditional fundraising norms, prioritize collective well-being, and reimagine philanthropy with care and intention. With deep roots in her heritage and a heart for justice, she is committed to cultivating bold, equitable systems that empower communities to thrive.

About Bill Stanczykiewicz, Ed.D.

Dr. Bill Stanczykiewicz serves as senior assistant dean for external relations at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. Bill directs The Fund Raising School while also serving on the academic faculty, teaching in the bachelors, masters, and doctoral degree programs. Bill has been associated with raising more than $120 million over the last 25 years as a nonprofit executive director and board member. His hobbies include dating his wife, Carmen, who is a major gift fundraiser, and they enjoy talking fundraising while strolling along San Diego Harbor or watching the sunset from Point Loma.

About Dr. Tonya Jackman Hampton, Ed.D.

Dr. Tonya Jackman Hampton, Ed.D., is an award-winning executive, speaker, and author with over 30 years of leadership experience spanning Fortune 500 companies and nonprofit organizations. Most recently, she served as Chief Human Resources Officer and at UC San Diego Health and Chief People and Culture Officer at Hennepin Healthcare. Dr. Jackman Hampton is the Founder and CEO of Sequel Consulting Group, LLC, and a best-selling author of The Myth of the Fearless Leader. She is also a nationally recognized speaker, consultant and certified executive coach. Dr. Jackman Hampton holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and Pre-Law from Clark Atlanta University, an MBA with a concentration in Human Resource Management, and a Doctor of Education in Organization Development from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. A breast cancer survivor, avid runner, and proud mother, Dr. Jackman Hampton is a native of Minnesota and now resides in San Diego.

About Kevin Delaney

A Vice President with Netzel Grigsby Associates, Kevin Delaney believes the success of any organization starts with strong leadership and a shared strategic vision by all stakeholders. With NGA, Kevin facilitates the development of strategic fundraising and marketing plans, conducts executive searches, supports board recruitment and development efforts, and serves in interim leadership roles.

Kevin brings over 25 years of professional fundraising experience at the independent school and university levels. He has successfully led multiple advancement offices overseeing strategic planning, capital campaign assessment, fund development, admissions, alumni relations, grant writing, communications/marketing, and volunteer management. Throughout his career, his passion for inspiring and helping others achieve their dreams and aspirations defines who he is as a person.

Prior to joining NGA, Kevin served as the director of annual giving at Loyola Marymount University, where he managed the school’s $6 million annual fund and supported development officers from various schools, colleges, and programs across campus. Most recently, Kevin served in senior leadership roles at Chaminade College Preparatory and La Salle College Preparatory supporting the fundraising, marketing, admissions, and community outreach efforts.

Kevin is a board member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Greater Los Angeles Chapter, and has served as Chair of National Philanthropy Day and other executive committee board positions. He is actively involved in the Pasadena community and serves on the school board of St. Philip the Apostle as Vice-President for Development. Kevin earned his B.A. in Business Administration and M.A. in Secondary Education from Loyola Marymount University.

About Claire Groebner

Claire Groebner is the Associate Director at Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center, where she has been a part of the staff team for 10 years after starting out as a volunteer. She oversees Olivewood’s community-centric resource generation activities, supports communications, strategic planning and partnerships, staff development, and program development; and engages in community advocacy and food systems work. She is a co-steward of the Community-Centric Fundraising San Diego Chapter and is passionate about being a champion for reframing charity to justice, values-aligned resource organizing, and collective impact and care. Claire’s love for people, nature, and food inspired her to get involved in the food justice and farm-to-table movements, and eventually, with Olivewood Gardens. In her free time, you can find her hiking the trails of San Diego with her pup, dancing bachata and salsa, chopping it up in the kitchen, and connecting with friends and family over tasty food and drinks.

About Tarry Kang

Tarry Kang serves as the Senior Director of Development for Student Services at California State University, Northridge (CSUN), bringing with her a wealth of experience and a strong record of success in higher education and nonprofit development. Since joining CSUN in 2021 as the Director of Development for the University Library and Centers, Tarry played a pivotal role in securing major achievements such as the acquisition of the Dickens Collection for Special Collections & Archives, a Max Factor Family Foundation grant for the Bridge to the Future Scholars Program, and funding for the Library’s first Tataviam educational mural.

Prior to CSUN, she held key leadership roles at organizations including Village Family Services, Ascencia Homeless Shelter, and MEND – Meet Each Need with Dignity demonstrating a deep commitment to addressing basic needs and supporting vulnerable communities.

Tarry’s in-depth knowledge of CSUN and its development processes, combined with her passion for student success, make her a driving force in Student Affairs. She also currently serves as President of the AFP Greater San Fernando Valley Chapter for 2025-2026.

About Dan Mueller

Dan Mueller is a dynamic, embodied nonprofit leader who values community, equity and social change. Dan has over a decade of experience with diverse nonprofits and volunteer-based organizations such as the U.S. Peace Corps and Slow Food USA. Her passion for cultural exchange has sent her to Belize, Jamaica and Puerto Rico to support grassroots community development initiatives in education, agriculture and sustainability. Since moving to San Diego in 2018, Dan has supported numerous community-led environmental initiatives through resource and partnership development. Dan recently obtained their Master of Arts in Peace & Justice from the Kroc School of Peace Studies and is also a certified yoga instructor. She finds healing and deep solidarity in co-stewarding San Diego’s Chapter of Community Centric Fundraising. Outside of work, Dan finds purpose in being a plant and pet parent, receiving the title of “cool auntie” from her niblings, and joyfully eating her way through life one adventure at a time.

About Alex Perkins

As Digital Giving Specialist at California State University San Marcos since August 2020, Alex Perkins has developed and overseen a robust crowdfunding program and supported campus wide initiatives for the annual CSUSM Giving Day, extending the annual giving program to broader audiences and funding opportunities. She serves as the primary contact CSUSM’s online giving platform vendor, ensuring the website maximizes platform features for increased participation and enhanced donor experience. She consults with project sponsors, provides best practices, and manages campaign timelines, content, and metrics.

Additionally, Alex leads all crowdfunding projects, coordinating with Advancement Services to ensure proper tracking and deposit of gifts. In Annual Giving Programs, she assists with direct mail, student philanthropy, and faculty/staff giving initiatives, fostering relationships with student organizations and staff to encourage philanthropy.

Alex’s contributions have been recognized with two CASE Global Circle of Excellence awards in 2024 and “Best in Annual Giving” awards for the “Calling Dibs” Employee Giving video (2023) and “Volunteer Materials” (2024) from the Annual Giving Network. She was recently named a 2025 CASE District VII “Rising Star Award” recipient.

She is a proud CSUSM alum and mother to three daughters.

About Ben Gilbert

Ben Glibert is an experienced facilitator, trainer, and project manager. He has worked with nonprofit boards and staff members to facilitate strategic planning efforts and conduct energizing workshops. Ben’s career has included training activities to open new operations and bring company vision, mission, and values to Pinkberry locations throughout the world. He also served as director of operations to produce pop culture events around the country. In addition, Ben has a background in facilitating team-building events for both adults and children. He is active in the International Association of Facilitators community, helping to organize the 2024 Conference of The Americas and spearheading a Western Washington facilitator support group. He holds a facilitation certificate from the Facilitation Center at Eastern Kentucky University.