Rey Faustino

ONE DEGREE | SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA

“I ‌ have learned so much about how to be a champion for anti-racism in my organization and how to ensure that I’m centering race equity in our work.”

I LEARNED SO MUCH about myself and who I am as a leader from being in community with fellow leaders of color in the nonprofit sector. When I’m in a room with other nonprofit leaders, I usually have my guard up at first. But with the Catalyst Collective program cohort, I was instantly able to share a bond with them because of our shared experience of being “othered” — and not only because of our racial identities, but also leading in a white-dominant nonprofit world. I have learned so much about how to be a champion for anti-racism in my organization and how to ensure that I’m centering race equity in our work.

I’m excited about building toward a future where the leaders of nonprofits are reflective of the communities we serve. I’m also looking forward to seeing our sector move beyond representation and diversity, and truly commit to their values, the communities they serve, and deep transformational change. For this to be possible, I urge foundations and philanthropic decision-makers to trust leaders of color, and to trust the needs of the people we serve.

Rey speaks on a panel for New America.

“New America CA Fellows Generated Impact (and Hope) in 2018” by Rachel Alexander, New America (Jan 2019).

Rey Faustino started the nonprofit One Degree to ensure immigrant families have access to services they need to overcome poverty.

Liz Hafalia/ The Chronicle

Rey Faustino (center) discusses health care outreach with pediatrician Rhea Boyd (left) and communications director.

Rachel Miers. Liz Hafalia/The Chronicle.

ABOUT

Rey Faustino, interim CEO of Alluma and founder of One Degree, is committed to ensuring that everyone has access to the vital, life-saving resources they need to achieve social and economic mobility. Rey launched One Degree, a technology-driven nonprofit organization, to ensure that all families have access to services they need to overcome poverty. Rey began his career as a teacher and later was the site director at BUILD, a college access nonprofit organization that propels low-income minority youth to attain a college education.