Diaz’s broad experience in Board development began as a consultant for Campbell & Company and Carter where she led Board trainings, created Board best practices and conducted governance audits that resulted in more effective and productive governance practices. Diaz is proud to be a founding Advisory Board member of Raise the Barr. She became involved through its co-founder and namesake, Anthony Barr and his mother Lori Barr through their connection at Loyola High School.

Diaz earned a master’s certificate in the advanced study of philanthropy from Loyola of Chicago and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Southern California. She is based out of Los Angeles and enjoys attending LAFC games, barbecuing in her backyard, and spending time with her husband, Colin, and their dog, Olly.

Lela Diaz

For more than 17 years, Lela Diaz has brought a strategic vision and focus to global nonprofits, resulting in increased private funding that advances missions and societal change. Diaz’s passion for philanthropy comes from her desire to see positive change in the world, which she achieves by connecting people to the causes they care most about in meaningful ways. Key accomplishments include providing leadership to national and global nonprofits including Feeding America, Education Above All Foundation, an initiative of Her Highness Sheika Moza Bint Nasser of Qatar, University of Monterey Mexico, Direct Relief International, The Nature Conservancy, The US Mexico Foundation, and the Wahdwani Initiative for Sustainable Healthcare in India.