The Council on Foundations Names NPT’s Fernando Gonzalez to 2021 Career Pathways Cohorts

Career Pathways Program Recruits Diverse Leadership Cohorts, Invests in Future of Philanthropy 

Jenkintown, PA, June 14, 2021 — The Council on Foundations today named Fernando Gonzalez, regional director, Mid-Atlantic, National Philanthropic Trust as one of participants chosen for the 2021 Career Pathways cohort. Career Pathways is a leadership development program designed to diversify the talent pipeline for C-suite positions in philanthropy. National Philanthropic Trust (NPT) is the largest national, independent public charity that manages donor-advised funds and one of the leading grantmaking institutions in the U.S.

Gonzalez is responsible for assisting NPT donors in Pennsylvania, District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana achieve their philanthropic goals. He has 11 years of wealth management experience, as well as five years experience in real estate and mortgage consultancy, and a rich history of finance, governance, and community engagement. Immediately prior to joining NPT, he was Vice President and Relationship Strategist for PNC Wealth Management in the Philadelphia region.

This year’s participants represent the eighth and ninth cohorts of the program, which recruits mid- to senior-level career professionals in the philanthropic sector. In response to both the coronavirus pandemic and the high number of outstanding applicants, the program has expanded to include two cohorts this year for the first time. Ten of this year’s participants have been awarded the Waldman Scholarship. This scholarship, named in honor of the late David Waldman of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, covers the cost of participation in the program.

Since its founding in 2010, the Career Pathways program has equipped participants with tools to accelerate their professional growth and to overcome the barriers that candidates of color and other minority groups face in the workforce. Recent data shows that participation in the program increases the likelihood of a promotion by 87%.

In addition to the fundamental courses and mentorship offered each year, this year’s cohorts will be trained in leadership strategies for virtual environments. The program will run fully virtually from July to December of 2021. Upon completion, the participants will be equipped not only to advance in their own careers, but also to support the advancement of their junior-level staff, develop organizational strategies, and leverage the vibrant network of the Career Pathways Alumni community.

“Yet again, this year’s applicant pool has raised the bar for future cohorts,” said Karon Moody Hardon, Vice President of Programs and Peer Engagement at the Council. “We are proud and excited to welcome another group of dynamic, diverse candidates to the program. Knowing that each Career Pathways participant produces a ripple effect across philanthropy, these cohorts represent the potential to grow a sector that truly speaks for the communities it serves.”

The Career Pathways program is made possible through the generous support of The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, The Kresge Foundation, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the Walmart Foundation.

For more information about Career Pathways, visit cof.org/CareerPathways.

 

About National Philanthropic Trust
Founded in 1996, National Philanthropic Trust (NPT) marks its 25th Anniversary in 2021 as the largest national, independent public charity that manages donor-advised funds and one of the leading grantmaking institutions in the U.S. Since its founding, NPT has raised more than $24 billion in charitable funding and has made more than 400,000 grants exceeding $12.4 billion to nonprofits around the world. NPT annually publishes the Donor-Advised Fund Report, the sector’s authority on the state of DAF philanthropy. Visit NPT’s resource library to learn what you can do with a DAF and NPT impact investing options. More at NPTrust.org and NPTGivingPoint.org.

 

National Philanthropic Trust
Richard Virgilio
973.879.9080
richard@virgilio.media

Council on Foundations
Karon Moody Harden, Vice President, Programs
202.991.5891
karon.harden@cof.org