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

Rady Children's Hospital

Project Specialist

Passionate and results-focused public health professional with effective verbal and written communication skills and proven record of managing projects from concept to completion. Skilled in program planning and evaluation, demonstrating exceptional organizational skills and the ability to problem solve. Adaptable leader with the ability to successfully collaborate with others and work directly with diverse and vulnerable populations.

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

The Moonlight

An experienced marketing and fundraising leader with a background in design and a deep love of the arts, Jena leads marketing and development initiatives within arts organizations and institutions.

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.