Independent Sector announces Hispanic Heritage Foundation President & CEO Antonio Tijerino to Board Directors

National organization that unites nonprofits and philanthropy names five new board directors

WASHINGTON, D.C.  –Independent Sector announced its Board of Directors for the coming year, including Hispanic Heritage Foundation President (HHF) and CEO Antonio Tijerino and four other new directors.

“I’m thrilled to welcome our new board directors, and our returning directors, as well,” said Dr. Akilah Watkins, Independent Sector president and CEO. “This is a time of great consequence for our sector and our nation. I look forward to working with our distinguished board to strengthen our sector, support our workforce, and advance a charitable sector that is healthy, trusted, and equitable to help all people in the United States thrive.”

In addition to Tijerino, new directors include Richard E. Besser, MD,  president and chief executive officer of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation; Janeen Comenote, an enrolled member of the Quinault Indian Nation and founding executive director of the National Urban Indian Family Coalition; Jacqueline Martinez Garcel, former chief executive officer of the Latino Community Foundation; and Isaiah M. Oliver, president of The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida.

“I am thrilled to join the Independent Sector Board of Directors in support of Akilah Watkins’ leadership as a unifying voice of the non-profit sector which is critical to our communities and country moving forward,” said Tijerino. “It’s critical we advocate for policies supporting our membership organizations and the civil society sector overall for greater impact across America.”

The Board of Directors has strategic and fiduciary oversight of Independent Sector and is composed of a diverse group of leaders representing nonprofits, philanthropies, organizers, universities, and corporate social responsibility groups that together participate in and contribute to America’s civil society. Directors are elected for a term of three years.

For over 23 years, Tijerino has headed up the Hispanic Heritage Foundation, a national nonprofit focused on education, workforce, social impact, and culture, through the lens of leadership, which he describes as a “malleable mission.” Under Tijerino, HHF has been recognized by The White House, US Congress, Fortune 500 companies, other nonprofits, and the Government of Mexico. Tijerino is also executive producer of the Hispanic Heritage Awards at the Kennedy Center, which are broadcast on PBS. Previously, Tijerino was an executive at Fannie Mae Foundation, Nike, Burson Marsteller, and Cohn & Wolfe.

He serves on various nonprofit and for-profit boards and advisory roles and has been honored with numerous awards and recognition for his work and co-founded several institutions and efforts with national and international impact.

Tijerino earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maryland’s School of Journalism, was honored with a Doctorate of Humane Letters from The Chicago School, and is a Salinas Fellow at the Aspen Institute.

Tijerino is featured on a Minecraft game called Latin Explorers, which he helped develop, and he also hosts the Fritanga Podcast.  He was designated as an “Influencer” on LinkedIn after being selected as “Top Voices on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion” on the platform. Tijerino’s blogs and media presence have made him a national voice on various issues.

Independent Sector is the only national membership organization that brings together a diverse community of changemakers at nonprofits, foundations, and corporate giving programs to ensure all people in the United States thrive. Learn more: https://independentsector.org/

###

Media Contact: Nicolás Peña, Director of Communications, HHF, nicolas@hispanicheritage.org