Foundation Adds Chief Financial Officer and Executive Administrator
SAN DIEGO – May 16, 2022 — Bolstering internal talent to strengthen its positive impact on the San Diego region, The Conrad Prebys Foundation is adding two new team members – Chief Financial Officer Gil Alvarado and Executive Administrator Nidia Castañeda.
Alvarado brings more than 25 years of experience in institutional investing, private foundation fiscal management, and portfolio oversight of approximately $1 billion in assets to his role as chief financial officer. Bringing a wealth of knowledge from the health care sector – a continued focus of the foundation’s grantmaking – Alvarado previously served as the president of the San Joaquin Valley Impact Investment Fund. The fund targets investment capital to create regional opportunities to counter health disparities and reinforce grant and policy efforts of the Sierra Health Foundation and Center through capital commitments targeting community development financial institutions funds. Alvarado also served as the executive vice president and chief operating officer at the Sierra Health Foundation: Center for Health Program Management in Sacramento – a public benefit corporation focused on improving health equity.
Leveraging his previous experience in applying technology and innovative strategies within established financial frameworks, Alvarado will serve as a visionary and organizational financial leader to implement unique strategies to improve financial stewardship, investment and strategic planning, and efficient management practices for The Conrad Prebys Foundation.
Nidia Castañeda joins the foundation as the executive administrator and brings more than six years of executive administration experience. Born in Tijuana, B.C., MX and raised in San Diego from age five, Castañeda previously served as the executive administrator for the Chicano Federation of San Diego and County Supervisor Nora Vargas’ office.
The foundation – which has assets exceeding $1 billion and annual grantmaking of more than $50 million – will tap into new team members to support the foundation’s activities to address community needs in San Diego through high impact giving and strategic initiatives in visual and performing arts, youth development, health care, medical research, and other charitable purposes consistent with Conrad Prebys’ history of philanthropy in San Diego.
“We are committed to continue building a team worthy of the great opportunity this foundation has been given to help move San Diego forward,” said Grant Oliphant, CEO of The Conrad Prebys Foundation. “Gil Alvarado is an expert in all aspects of foundation finance, including socially responsible and impact investing, and I know he will become a resource not just to The Conrad Prebys Foundation but to the broader philanthropic community in our region. Nidia Castañeda has extensive experience working in and with this community, and she understands both its needs and the importance of partnering with the public, private and nonprofit sectors. My colleagues and I are proud to be joined by Gil and Nidia, and we look forward to working together on behalf of a brighter future for all San Diegans.”
Both Alvarado and Castañeda are looking forward to serving in their new roles at the foundation.
“I am excited to be joining a great team at the foundation and in carrying forward the legacy of Conrad Prebys in serving the community of San Diego,” said Alvarado.
“I feel incredibly honored to be joining a fantastic team at The Conrad Prebys Foundation,” said Castañeda. “As a lifelong San Diegan, I'm thrilled to serve our community in this new role."
About The Conrad Prebys Foundation
With assets exceeding $1 billion, The Conrad Prebys Foundation is currently San Diego’s largest private foundation. With a focus on improving lives and providing opportunities for all San Diegans, the foundation concentrates its work on the visual and performing arts, youth development, health care, medical research, and other charitable purposes consistent with Conrad Prebys’ history of philanthropy in the community. For more information, visit www.ConradPrebysFoundation.org.