2025 Board of Directors
Executive Committee
President - Ashley Carbonell
Vice President - Mayra Hernandez
Treasurer - Sabrina Johnson
Secretary - Alex Springberg
Board Members
Elise Baker
Becki Markle
Chris Clark
Caitlyn Stone
Learn more about our amazing Board members! We look forward to meeting you!
Ashley Carbonell, KPBS
Pronouns: She/Her
Ashley is currently Donor Engagement Manager at KPBS. In her role, she supports major and mid-level fundraising for the organization by cultivating fundraising strategy and managing the Producers Club.
Born and raised in southeast San Diego, she has made her roots in the community. Ashley coordinated educational outreach programs with local high school students as an undergraduate at UCSD. Her previous nonprofit job experience includes working at Forever Balboa Park, La Jolla Playhouse on their house management team, and Lawyers Club of San Diego as Administrative Coordinator and Communications Specialist. In her free time, Ashley enjoys spending time with her loved ones, going to the zoo, and baking. She’s excited to get to know fellow young nonprofit professionals!
My Favorite thing about San Diego is the rich culture and good food!
Mayra Hernandez
Mayra was born and raised in San Diego. She grew up in Barrio Logan, and from a very young age, Mayra has been involved in social issues in her community. She has also been in the nonprofit sector for more than ten years and recently graduated with her Master's Degree in Nonprofit Leadership and Management at University of San Diego.
Sabrina Johnson, Downtown San Diego Partnership
Pronouns: She/Her
Sabrina has worked in nonprofit finance her entire career and loves using her knowledge and skills to better her community. She’s spent the last few years overseeing grant and contract funding at the San Diego LGBT Community Center and Downtown San Diego Partnership in the fields of homelessness, HIV prevention, and youth services. She’s a graduate of The LGBT Center’s Young Professionals Council which develops and connects young leaders to become strong advocates for the community. She has a bachelor's degree in sociology from University of San Diego, an associate degree in accounting from Mesa College, and is always learning something new. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and being outside in the San Diego sunshine.
My favorite thing about San Diego is exploring Balboa Park. There are endless spots to wander and always a fun festival to check out!
Elise Baker, Accessity
Pronouns: She/Her
Elise has been working in the nonprofit space in San Diego for a decade, working primarily in Development and Fundraising. In her current role at Accessity, a CDFI bringing access to capital and business education to Southern California, she supports organization’s fundraising activities, partnerships, impact analysis, donor communication and engagement efforts.
Elise is passionate about social justice philanthropy and is active in the Community Centric Fundraising- San Diego Chapter, bringing those principles to her work, focusing on equity-centered approaches to donor engagement and community development. When she is not working or volunteering she is either outdoors camping, backpacking, or hiking or relaxing at home with her 14-year-old dog.
My favorite thing about San Diego is how close you are to the ocean, the desert, the mountains, and the border! All kinds of outdoor adventures await!
Becki Markle, Nonprofit Leadership-Strategy, Operations & Partnerships
Becki is a nonprofit professional with over a decade of experience across operations, strategy, programs, executive support, and community partnerships. She previously served as Chief of Staff at Meals on Wheels San Diego County, where she led cross-functional initiatives, supported internal operations, and collaborated closely with board members, donors, funders, and external partners. She is currently working with ElderHelp of San Diego on strategic initiatives and special projects that support internal growth and cross-team alignment.
At the heart of it, Becki simply wants to play a role in making the world a more connected and compassionate place. She believes in the power of small, meaningful actions and is inspired by the idea that if many people in many places do many small things, they really can change the world.
My favorite thing about San Diego is hiking with my dog, Dessi, and finding unexpectedly good vegan food in almost every neighborhood.
Chris Clark, ULI San Diego- Tijuana
Chris Clark serves as the Executive Director of ULI San Diego – Tijuana, a professional association focused on developing the leaders who shape our built environment. With more than a decade of experience in local public affairs, economic development and nonprofit management, he has focused his work on supporting community efforts to strengthen unique cultural and civic assets. His career has included positions leading community outreach for infrastructure projects, public policy analysis and regional economic development. He is an active community volunteer and a proud judge of the annual SoNo Fest Chili Cook-Off. Chris is also a lecturer in urban planning and real estate development at the University of California, San Diego.
Caitlyn Stone, ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties
Pronouns: She/Her
As a philanthropy relations officer at the American Civil Liberties Union, Caitlyn is on the frontlines of the fight for immigrant rights and the protection of marginalized groups. Before joining the ACLU in 2024, Caitlyn spent several years in the international development sector, championing economic justice for communities in Africa and Asia. Prior to that, she received her bachelor’s degree in political science and international relations at UC Santa Barbara, and a master's degree in East Asian studies from the University of Southern California. While living in China as a graduate student, her research centered on the social movements opposing China-backed dam projects and their impacts on rural and indigenous communities in Burma (Myanmar).
Now based in Southern California, Caitlyn enjoys staying active with her friends, family, and her dog, Benny. She satisfies her love for travel by exploring new destinations where she can immerse herself in diverse cultures, cuisine, and music. Caitlyn serves as the Programming Chair for the local Young Nonprofit Professionals Network in San Diego. She also dedicates her free time to supporting grassroots organizations in West and Southeastern Africa, collaborating with them to implement dynamic fundraising strategies that fuel their mission for social change.
My favorite thing about San Diego is the diverse food, people, and experiences!
Alex Springberg, GFS Events
Pronouns: She/Her
Alex joined the events and fundraising industry 5 years ago to help alleviate the event planning stress from nonprofit organizations. Her goal is to collaborate with organizations and bring them peace of mind during the event planning process. As the Director of Business Development & Events at GFS Events, Alex has worked with dozens of organizations to plan their fundraising and community events. Being able to put on a successful event while bringing a community closer together is her goal. When she’s not at work, you can catch her exploring the outdoors or eating ice cream at Salt & Straw.
My favorite thing about San Diego is the delicious food and amazing people!