Member Profile: Javier Sanchez

By: Peg Butler

Javier Sanchez is the Manager of Information Systems at the Beldon Fund in New York City.  The Beldon Fund is spending down its assets by 2009, which means Javier, who wishes to remain active in the foundation world, is currently exploring the job market (his contact information is below).

Javier can best be described as a Renaissance man.  Born and raised in Nogales, AZ, he credits his wide range of skills and interests to his mother’s encouragement to “explore life to the fullest,” which he has certainly done.  During his early years, Javier held many jobs: busboy, desk clerk, and camp counselor.  He worked with children with Down Syndrome, patients with Alzheimer’s disease and their caregivers, and teenagers with emotional problems.  Javier’s degree is in psychology from San Diego State University, where he published three studies in scientific journals.

After moving to New York in 1993, Javier worked as a database administrator for an agency that supported mothers living with AIDS.  From there he moved to a Wall Street accounting firm.  With self-taught tech skills, Javier designed systems that transferred data from banks to the accounting systems at his firm.  Part of his job involved meeting with law firms and clients who managed trust funds and investments, which in turn led him to the Beldon Fund.

Throughout his tenure at Beldon, Javier has been very involved with the Grants Managers Network (GMN).  He has been an instrumental member on the Communications Committee: he tested the GIGI prototype and was co-editor of the GMN ‘paper’ newsletter.  The GMN Board benefited from four years of his service, during which time the Board developed GMN’s current strategic plan and attained its 501(c)(3) status.   “I love being part of a growing organization that is rapidly becoming a national leader in the world of philanthropy,” Javier reflects.

Besides being GMN’s resident tech and communications guru, Javier is an avid freelance photographer who won a national competition to have his work featured in a Boston gallery.  (You may have also seen him at GMN conferences, recording our history!)  In addition to his artistic pursuits, Javier enjoys sports and travel.  He has visited Prague, Rome, Paris, Buenos Aires, Munich, and Puerto Rico, as well as many locations in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.  No “accidental tourist,” Javier immerses himself in the local culture when traveling, preferring to rent apartments, and shop the local stores and markets.  An expert in many areas, Javier is always the student.