SDWF Philanthropy Fellowship Program

The SDWF Philanthropy Fellowship Program helps us develop deeper relationships with the nonprofit community by providing two-year membership scholarships to outstanding staff from local nonprofit organizations. Fellowship participants are selected through a competitive application process and bring valuable skills and perspectives to our membership and grantmaking process. Fellowship participants receive mentorship and professional development opportunities, including learning about grantmaking from the grant maker’s perspective.

Applications for Cohort 11 of the SDWF Philanthropy Fellowship Program will open in March 2026!

Cohort 9 | July 2024 – June 2026

Emily Bell

Project Specialist

Rady Children's Hospital

Emily holds a wealth of experience working in the nonprofit field in various social service settings. She now provides consultation for trauma-informed organizational change efforts in child welfare. Emily excels in navigating diverse stakeholder landscapes, developing programs and evaluation strategies, and leading multidisciplinary teams. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Azusa Pacific University and a Masters of Public Health from the University of California Los Angeles.

Ana Magdaleno

Annual Giving Manager

Promises2Kids

Ana is an experienced Annual Giving Manager at Promises2Kids, dedicated to empowering women and supporting vulnerable groups, especially foster children. With a strong background in development and community engagement, she excels in donor relations and project management. Ana is eager to contribute her expertise in fundraising and strategic planning to make a lasting impact in the San Diego and Latinx communities.

Jena Ralls

Development Director

Moonlight Cultural Foundation

Jena Ralls serves as Development Director for Moonlight Cultural Foundation, the nonprofit partner to the Moonlight Amphitheatre. In this role, she leads fundraising efforts that expand access to inclusive arts programming in North County San Diego. With a background in marketing and design, Jena brings creativity and strategy to donor engagement and passionately builds community through the arts. Outside of work, she enjoys dancing, reading, and beachside pizza with her two boys.

Ruth Teseyem Tadesse

Research Analyst

UCSD Center for Community Health, Refugee Health Unit

Ruth uses data to identify community needs prior to planning, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating programs designed to encourage healthy lifestyles, policies, and environments. She supports evaluation efforts by creating community needs assessments, program pre and post surveys, and facilitating focus group sessions. She contributes to community based participatory research by working with various stakeholders, such as the San Diego Refugees Communities Coalition (SDRCC), to support community led data collection and data desegregation efforts to improve barriers to understanding refugees’ behavioral health and health care needs.

Zhenxi Zhong

Development Manager

Urban Corps of San Diego

Zhenxi Zhong secures funding to support education, job training, and wraparound services for underserved young adults. She manages the organization’s grant portfolio and cultivates relationships with funders and nonprofit partners to sustain and grow Urban Corps’ impact. Zhenxi is passionate about creating opportunities for youth to succeed and is committed to advancing equity through resource development and cross-sector collaboration.

Cohort 10 | July 2025 – June 2027

Rithi Arora

Grant Writer

YMCA of San Diego County

Jessica Diller

Community Events Manager

Just in Time for Foster Youth

Guided by her motto “service with joy,” Jessica Diller creates inclusive events that uplift transition-age foster youth while fostering connection, resilience, and a strong sense of community. With an advanced degree in nonprofit leadership and management, she combines creative vision with fiscal responsibility to design and execute large-scale, mission-driven gatherings. Jessica’s passion lies in connecting people and resources to meet the evolving needs of the San Diego community.

Rashida Elimu

Director of Programs

Promises2Kids

Heather Piedrahita

Associate Director, Alumni & Community Relations

National University

Heather Piedrahita leads the alumni relations team at National University, supporting a vibrant community of over 245,000. A San Diego native, she serves on the board of Freedom Dogs and volunteers as a Red Shirt with Sports San Diego. With degrees in sociology, Spanish, and human behavior, Heather is also a proud advocate for military-connected families. She enjoys beach days, good books, great food, and time with her family. She joined SDWF in 2025 to expand her impact in the local community.

Portia Seautelle

Director of Partnerships

San Diego Wellness Collaborative

Arriving in San Diego at age 12 from England, Portia is proud to call San Diego home and is passionate about preserving both its cultural and environmental diversity. Portia is the Director of Partnerships with the San Diego Wellness Collaborative offering her the opportunity to connect with CBOs throughout San Diego and support their members through health equity initiatives. Though a true introvert, Portia can (and will) talk to you for hours about traveling, her dog Boltito, and whales.