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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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 B.A. 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 Advancement Officer
Laura Gonzalez-Reed
Laura joined The BASIC Fund in summer 2023 as Chief Advancement Officer and brings over 20 years of nonprofit leadership experience in the education sector. Prior to joining Laura was the Chief Impact Officer for Big Brother Big Sisters of the Bay Area. Laura has built organizations from the ground up and scaled them Nationally. As the Co-Founder and CEO of LitLab, she developed digital programs and learning apps for low-income families to support early learning at home. When COVID-19 became a global pandemic, Laura led the merger of LitLab with Raising a Reader to help bring these digital solutions to families across the US. In addition to supporting families advocate for their early learners and access new opportunities, Laura enjoys spending time with her two daughters and extended family here in the Bay Area.
Sr. Programs Associate
Susana Suarez
Susana is a dedicated individual with a strong passion for education and a deep commitment to creating opportunities for low-income families.
She is currently pursuing her Master of Public Administration (MPA) at California State University, East Bay, and through her role, hopes to promote educational equity and help bridge the opportunity gap for underprivileged children in the Bay Area. Susana joined The BASIC Fund in 2023.
Susana enjoys spending quality time with her loved ones and discovering unique food spots.
Development Sr. Associate
Georgia White
Georgia began working in educational equity after graduating Bryn Mawr College with a degree in Psychology and Creative Writing. A recent transplant to the West Coast, she manages The BASIC Fund’s donor data and communications. Her favorite hobbies include exploring new places, crocheting, and writing.
