Meet The Speakers

University professor and philanthropy researcher at Fundação Getulio Vargas, former Executive Director of the Brazilian Fundraisers Association (ABCR), and board member of multiple organizations advancing the strengthening and professionalization of the philanthropic sector in the region.

 

Executive Director of Fundación de Mujeres en Puerto Rico and a recognized leader in racial and gender justice, with experience at the NIH, the Wilson Center, and the National Science Foundation, and a driving force behind key development and innovation initiatives in Puerto Rico following Hurricane María.
 

Gio Blanco is a fundraising strategist and consultant with over 17 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, founder of Abundantia for Social Good, and has trained hundreds of leaders in sustainable fundraising strategies; she currently serves as Vice President of the Puerto Rico Nonprofit Summit.
 

Founder and Director of La Fundación Happy (The Happy Givers), an organization dedicated to supporting vulnerable communities in Puerto Rico, especially elderly individuals living in isolation or extreme poverty. He has launched initiatives such as the Social Kitchen, Community Farm, and Solidarity Market, preparing and delivering hundreds of meals weekly using local products.

President and CEO of Titín Foundation, she leads initiatives that advance education, expand access to the arts, and strengthen the nonprofit sector in Puerto Rico. With more than 20 years of experience in philanthropy, she has served as an executive director, consultant, and board member of key organizations that promote collaboration and growth across the social sector.

Laura Cancel is the CEO of NEDDIE and President of the Puerto Rico Nonprofit Summit, a social entrepreneur with over 10 years of experience in philanthropy, driving technological innovation and strategic partnerships with a vision to expand growth opportunities and access to funding for Puerto Rico’s nonprofit sector.

Leads initiatives that strengthen education and the arts in Puerto Rico, advancing efforts to ensure students read at grade level by third grade. She has also supported artists and cultural organizations to expand their impact. With a background in the private sector, she brings a strategic approach focused on results and collaboration.

Executive Director of Corporación La Fondita de Jesús, where she has led initiatives that strengthen services for people experiencing homelessness and other vulnerable populations in Puerto Rico. With more than 32 years of experience in the public and nonprofit sectors, she specializes in leadership, social impact program design, and strategic planning.
 

She leads a network of 111 affiliated organizations and more than 300 corporate social investors impacting 1.2 million people on the island, and brings over 20 years of experience in strategic leadership, international consulting, scientific publications, and doctoral-level training in organizational psychology.

 

He brings over four decades of leadership in economic development, philanthropy, and grantmaking across Puerto Rico and the United States, and is widely recognized for strengthening the sustainability and strategic growth of the nonprofit sector.

 

Executive Director of Fundación Hospital Pediátrico, where she has strengthened philanthropic support and increased donor participation by more than 50%. Under her leadership, the foundation has invested over $11 million in programs that impact more than 8,500 pediatric patients each year in Puerto Rico, expanding access to essential services.