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Fellowship Program

The San Diego Women’s Foundation Fellowship cultivates the next generation of diverse, visionary nonprofit leaders.

San Diego's

Future Leaders

This fully funded two-year program provides emerging professionals with hands-on experience in collective philanthropy, opportunities to engage directly in our grantmaking process, mentorship from SDWF members, and a powerful network of women committed to strengthening San Diego.

Fellows gain leadership skills, expanded community connections, and a deeper understanding of nonprofit and foundation governance, all while making a meaningful impact in our region.

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Program Goals

Nurture Leaders.

To nurture a pipeline of visionary & diverse leaders through this program

Foster Connections.

To foster connections & engagements as we come together in collective philanthropy

Utilize Expertise.

To apply members’ expertise & perspectives to further SDWF’s mission & goals

Invest in Community.

To develop philanthropists who will invest in the San Diego community

Application Timeline

Application Opens

February

Application Closes

March

Interview Period

April

Decision Notification

May

Cohort 9

July 2024 – June 2026

Emily Bell
Emily Bell

Project Specialist

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.

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Ana Magdaleno
Ana Magdaleno

Annual Giving Manager

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.

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Jenna-Ralls
Jena Ralls

Development Director

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.

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Ruth Tadesse
Ruth Teseyem Tadesse

Research Analyst

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.

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Zhenzi Zhong
Zhenzi Zhong

Development Manager

Zhenzi Zhong

Development Director
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.

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Cohort 10

July 2025 – June 2027

Rithi Arora
Rithi Arora

Grant Writer

Rithi Arora

Grant Writer
YMCA of San Diego County

Bio coming soon.

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Jessica Diller
Jessica Diller

Special Events & Stewardship Manager

Jessica Diller

Special Events & Stewardship Manager
McAlister Institute for Treatment & Education, Inc.

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.

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Rashida Elimu
Rashida Elimu

Director of Programs

Rashida Elimu

Director of Programs
Promises2Kids

Bio coming soon.

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Heather Piedrahita
Heather Piedrahita

Associate Director, Alumni & Community Relations

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.

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Portia Seautelle
Portia Seautelle

Director of Partnerships

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.

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Past Fellowship Members

Cohort 1

July 2015 – June 2017

Carol Kennedy
Mara Morrison
Tina Williams*

Cohort 2

July 2016 – June 2018

Erica Bouris
Kim Heinle*°
Shannon Pavell*°
Susan Perkins*°
Lindsey Zipkin

Cohort 3

July 2017 – June 2019

Katie Bradel
Caitlin Finch
Alexandra Kritchevsky*
Barbara Ybarra

Cohort 4

July 2018 – June 2020

Laurel Dalsted
Nina Holtz
Stephanie Ritter
Mallory Thorne

Cohort 5

July 2019 – June 2021

Vanessa Davis
Marisa Katzman
Melissa Villagomez
Kelly Wilkinson*

Cohort 6

July 2021 – June 2023

Angela Aceves
Megan Adcock*
Christina Meeker
Kelsey Wadman*

Cohort 7

July 2022 – June 2024

Alison Aragon
Katie Case
Jessica Kidd*
TD Smith*°

Cohort 8

July 2023 – June 2025

Mariela Brambila*
Emily Davis*
Sofia Cardenas*
Yadira Ruiz

*Current SDWF Member
°SDWF Board Member

Quote from

Kelsey Wadman

Megan and I were assigned the project of creating a "roadmap" to convert the SDWF grantmaking to multi-year giving. My project was so fulfilling! Megan and I successfully created a plan that was tailored to the SDWF's unique approach to democratic grant making. We partnered with the Grants Committee and the Board to help them make adjustments, presented the plan to the Board and the full membership, and it was voted into practice! This was one of the most satisfying accomplishments in my career.

Quote from

Kim Heinle

When I applied for the Exec. Director position at Bayside Community Center in 2020, one of two letters of recommendation I submitted was from Elaine Kalin, who not only encouraged me to apply for the SDWF Fellowship Program in 2016, but who has continued to support me throughout the years. That speaks volumes to the impact of the SDWF.

Quote from

Tina Williams

Participating in the full grant cycle as a SDWF member improved my grant writing and grant management skills as well as my facilitation skills. I've gained confidence through my experiences in SDWF and have made connections and friendships that I greatly value.

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