Catalina Ruiz-Healy Joins Hirsch Philanthropy Partners as New Senior Director

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Hirsch Philanthropy Partners is excited to announce that Catalina Ruiz-Healy has joined the firm as a Senior Director. Catalina will immediately contribute senior leadership during a significant growth period as Hirsch expands its industry-leading philanthropy services to more philanthropists and foundations.

Catalina brings over two decades of deep experience across philanthropy, social entrepreneurship, management consulting, and politics. Most recently, she was Founder and CEO of GradGuru, a non-profit educational technology company that accelerates completion rates among community college students, which was acquired by Beyond 12 Education in 2020. Catalina is former Vice President of the Rappaport Family Foundation, where she shifted the long-term civic engagement strategy to focus on building community college student leadership and power. Prior to that, Catalina served in various senior roles at the New Progressive Coalition, Tides Foundation, and the TCC Group in philanthropy and corporate practice.

“Catalina has a long track record of creating systemic change with her exceptional leadership in venture philanthropy, public-private partnerships, and social innovation,” said Susan Mayer Hirsch, Founder and CEO. “She is a trusted partner of community organizations and will play a pivotal role in advancing our mission to create a more equitable and uplifting world.”

Catalina has served on impactful Boards including the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement, IGNITE: Building Political Ambition in Young Girls, Youth Speaks, and more. She has also been awarded numerous civic engagement fellowships, such as the Presidential Management and Emerge California Fellowships.

She holds an M.A. of International Affairs from Columbia University – School of International and Public Affairs, a B.A. in International Affairs from Pomona College, and is a former Public Policy Lecturer at Mills College.