I began my tenure with CAF America in 2011, and currently serve as the Senior Vice President of External Affairs. In my current role, I manage the External Affairs Donor Services, and Thought Leadership teams and coordinate strategy and operational management with the Business Development and Grant Services teams. I also play a management role with CAF America’s two subsidiaries, serving on the Management Committee of the CAF American Donor Fund and overseeing CAF Canada’s program operations. I am a leading expert in international grantmaking from the U.S. and Canada as well as in local country laws on foreign funding.

Prior to joining the CAF America staff, I worked for 1.5 years as a volunteer visitor coordinator, tutor, and child caretaker at an orphanage in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. As the visitor coordinator, I successfully coordinated several orthopedic surgical brigades that serviced the home and the surrounding communities. My time working at the orphanage in Honduras inspired me to continue this work by helping foreign nonprofits gain access to generous U.S. donors with CAF America’s support.

In my spare time I enjoy playing guitar and cooking.

I completed my Masters in International Development at American University, and I hold B.A. in Spanish and a B.S. in Anthropology, graduating summa cum laude from the honors college at Virginia Commonwealth University. I have a certificate in Nonprofit Executive Management from Georgetown University. I am fluent in Spanish as proven by my Spanish Certificate of Translation and Interpretation from my alma mater. I am certified in Anti-Money Laundering (AML/CFT) by the Society of Tax and Estate Professionals (STEP).

Get in touch with me at jessie@cafamerica.org