Chief Executive Officer
Rachel Elginsmith
Rachel joined the BASIC Fund in 2009 after more than fifteen years of experience in firms spanning financial management, digital media, human resources and advertising. As the Senior Executive of the organization, Rachel manages our overall strategic direction, fiscal management, program design, donor relations, partnerships, and people management.
Rachel attended Pomona College in Claremont, CA for a Bachelors in Psychology. She resides in Oakland with her husband and two daughters. She enjoys spending her time open-water swimming and playing her cello.
Chief Advancement Officer
Christine Weiss
Christine transitioned from a career in financial services to the non-profit sector with board positions for an outdoor youth camp organization and a public school foundation. She is passionate about our mission to narrow the education inequality of youth and will focus on sharing our mission to new donors.
Christine is a Bay Area native and attended UC Santa Barbara for a Bachelors in Economics and Golden Gate University for an MBA. She lives on the peninsula with her husband and three daughters. Favorite pasttimes include exploring the wine country and visiting the coast.
Chief Operating Officer
Alejandro Nuño
Alejandro joined the BASIC Fund in 2005 as he aspires to help families make quality education a reality for their children. Having attended private school for K-12th grade, he understands the importance of a good education.
Alejandro earned a BA in International Relations from Syracuse University, and was on the men’s varsity soccer team. These days he enjoys spending time with his family and playing golf and footgolf in his spare time.
Chief Program Officer
Carmen Martinez
Carmen has been with the BASIC Fund since 2001, and prior to that had worked with several non-profit organizations serving Bay Area residents. Carmen works directly with our families and has extensive ties with our schools.
Her dog, Mocha, is the best San Francisco tour guide and helps her find new spots in the city while taking their walking adventures.
Operations Manager
Roxana Landaverde
Roxana has been with The BASIC Fund since 2009. As a product of an Oakland private school herself, she finds it rewarding to aid families with a resource to obtain the same opportunities.
Roxana graduated from University of California, Los Angeles, earning a B.A. in History with a concentration in European Studies. She’s a Bay Area native, devoted cinephile, reader, and sports fan. Go A’s!
Data & Research Manager
Amy Bishop
Amy is passionate about helping to build a pathway towards educational equity for children and their families. She joined The BASIC Fund in 2022 and loves contributing to a dedicated team serving the local Bay Area community.
Amy is a Salesforce Certified Administrator and Certified Platform App Builder. She is a resident of Oakland, after migrating to the Bay from New Zealand. She enjoys finding new local spots to share with friends.
Development and Marketing Sr. Associate
Jazmin Contreras
Jazmin is passionate about education and a firm believer that where you are from should not determine the education and opportunities you have access to. She has been with The BASIC Fund since 2018 and recently joined the Development team.
Jazmin graduated from UC Riverside with a B.A. in Sociology. She loves going to the beach on cloudy days and taking her dog with her.
Office Sr. Associate
Rosalva Melara
Rosalva comes to The BASIC Fund with a passion for education and a strong belief in the opportunities it unlocks in the lives of Bay Area children. She joined The BASIC Fund in 2019.
Rosalva graduated from San Diego State University with a B.S. in Business Administration and emphasis in Human Resources. She enjoys hiking, and spending time with her family, friends, and new puppy.
Operations Associate
Frank Alfaro
Frank joined The BASIC Fund in 2021 with a desire to serve his community. He enjoys being part of a team that helps families unlock new opportunities for their children and obtain quality education.
Frank graduated from California State University, East Bay with a B.S. in Health Sciences and emphasis in Community Health. In his free time, Frank enjoys spending time with family and friends, watching horror movies, and eating delicious food.
