Our Board of Directors
Our Board is Made Up Veteran and Diverse Latinx Fundraisers. Combined experience of over 150 years in fundraising.
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BOARD CHAIR
Diana DeJesus-Medina Chief Development Officer LatinoJustice PRLDEF. New York, NY Diana joined LatinoJustice in 2009 to guide the organization’s fund development strategy and informs organizational planning. She has 30 years of experience in fundraising. Before joining the LJP team, Diana served as the national director of affiliate services at Family Promise, where she oversaw and implemented organizational development services, including strategic planning and board training, for more than 100 affiliates. Throughout her career, Diana has worked with myriad non-profit teams, including the YWCA of Brooklyn and the American Folk Art Museum, to strengthen organizational resources and capacity. A Brooklyn native and New Jersey resident, Diana volunteers with several nonprofit organizations and is an avid baker. |
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Pedro J. Rivera Esq.
Director of Development, George Mason University. Fairfax, VA Previously Senior Director of Individual Giving, UnidosUS. He is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in legal, wealth management, fundraising, recruiting and fundraising, primarily on diversity, inclusion, and equity within various professional fields, including legal, wealth management, and nonprofits. He has served on the Hispanic Bar Association of PA as President, HNBA Regional IV President, elected Chairman of the Board of Asociacion de Puertorriqueños en Marcha, APM, Inc, and Chairman of the Board of Action Aids. In 2008, he was selected to PA Delegate for Obama. He has been honored by the HNBA as their Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year in 2014, selected 2005 Lawyers on the Fast Track by The Legal Intelligencer and PA Law Weekly. He enjoys contributing to making this world a better, kinder, and gentler place to live. |
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Marco Corona
Senior Development Officer at Southern Environmental Law Center. Charleston, SC He was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, attending UCLA before embarking on a career in nonprofits. Marco has over 20 years of experience in fundraising. While in California, he worked for Best Buddies International and the Level Playing Field Institute as well as The Jamestown Community Center, where he was the Director of Development for five years. In addition, he is a graduate of Leadership Charleston (class of 2017), Immediate Past President of the AFP SC Lowcountry Chapter, and the current Inclusion Diversity Equity Access (IDEA) Chair for AFP Global. Marco has lived in Charleston since 2013 with his wife and daughter. |
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Milton Rodriguez
Vice President Growth Strategy & Development, KIPP Chicago. Chicago Scholars Foundation, High Jump (former) Proven executive focused on creating change for communities through philanthropy, organizational growth, and expansion of impact. Thought leader advancing excellence in executive leadership and investment. Over two decades leading organizations through strategic change. Able to advance a bold set of goals forward while prioritizing organizational culture. Guided by the fundamental belief that transformational growth is a collaborative process that we all own. Chicago, IL. |
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Josef Manuel Liles Phd
Director, Prospect Management & Analytics Santa Clara University. Santa Clara, CA He has worked in prospect research & management for 14 years. His involvement in the nonprofit sector has given him an understanding of the investment approach to philanthropy in Silicon Valley, coupled with the need for basic services and a stronger educational and professional pipeline for underserved communities. His long-standing passion in promoting compassionate immigration reform is tied to his personal and spiritual connection to the immigration experience, along with historical and critical analysis. He wants to contribute to a world where all can benefit. |
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BOARD SECRETARY
Lisandra Lamboy Senior Director of Advancement for The Knowledge House. New York, NY Experienced non-profit executive with a demonstrated commitment to social justice. In the field of fundraising for over a decade. Skilled in Individual Fundraising, Grant Writing, Corporate Partnerships, Donor-Centric Communications, and Salesforce. Proud Board Member of Somos El Poder and Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice. |
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Yuri E. Casco, CFRE
Director, Donor Engagement & Special Events, USC Arcadia Hospital Foundation, Arcadia, CA Fundraising professional with 20 years experience in non-profit management, capital campaigns, government grants, corporate giving, annual giving, employee giving, special events, and planned giving. Yuri is an active member the Association for Fundraising Professionals Greater Los Angeles Chapter and in 2019 became the first Latina President of the Chapter. In 2022 she completed the Association of Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP) Health System Philanthropy Residency Program, and was a recipient of the 40 Under 40 Award at the AHP International Conference. |
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Yanira Amadeo
Director of Development, University Development, Montclair State University. New City, NY. Yanira is an experienced Frontline Fundraiser and Project Manager with a demonstrated history of working in the higher education sector for nearly 20 years. Skilled in promoting a culture of philanthropy through individual and major gift fundraising, pipeline engagement, nonprofit strategic planning, board and volunteer management, and social media communications. Strong entrepreneurial development professional with a Master’s Degree focused in Nonprofit & Fundraising Management from Columbia University in the City of New York. Gratuate from La Vanguardia Academy, Fundraising Training Program with Somos El Poder. |
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Celeste Guzmán Mendoza
Assistant Vice President of Alumni Relations and Development at Trinity University, San Antonio, TX. Celeste Guzmán Mendoza is a published poet, essayist, performer, and playwright. In addition to being a writer, Mendoza is a professional fundraiser and nonprofit leader with more than 28 years of experience in comprehensive and endowment campaigns, individual donor cultivation, annual giving, memberships and alumni relations, as well as foundation and corporate relations. She holds a doctoral degree in Education Leadership and Policy, and an MFA in Poetry; her dissertation focused on Latins philanthropy at higher education institutions in the U.S. She was a co-founder of CantoMundo, a workshop for Latina/o poets, a fellow of Hedgebrook, a retreat for women writers, and Macondo, a community of writers who advance social justice. |
ADVISORY COUNCIL / CONSEJO DE ASESORES
We are grateful to our Advisory Council for their great council and support!
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Kim Klein
Consultant, Klein and Roth, Publisher, Grassroots Fundraising Journal, |
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Father Rigoberto Calocarivas, Phd
Founder and Executive Director, Multicultural Institute, Berkeley, CA |
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Sara Lomelin Velten
Executive Director, Philanthropy Together |
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Stephanie Roth
Principal, Klein and Roth Consulting |
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Birgit Smith Burton
Founder of the AADO (African American Development Officer Association) |
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Oren Slozberg
Executive Director of the Commonweal Foundation |
