Carla V. Bernal

Carla brings more than 15 years of leadership experience spanning philanthropy, federal government, and nonprofit organizations, with expertise in philanthropy strategy, grantmaking, donor engagement, and cross-sector partnerships.

Prior to joining AAPIP, Carla founded Bernal Impact Consulting, an advisory firm that partnered with philanthropic institutions, nonprofit executives, high-net-worth individuals, and ultra-high-net-worth families to align philanthropic capital, strategy, and influence for greater social impact. She previously held roles at the Hewlett Foundation and Pivotal Ventures, where she helped design and steward multimillion-dollar national grantmaking strategies advancing U.S. democracy, women’s political power, racial equity, and violence prevention. At the Hewlett Foundation, she co-chaired the Anti-AAPI Hate Rapid Response Fund, helping launch a $5.5 million philanthropic initiative supporting Asian American and Pacific Islander communities nationwide. Earlier in her career, she served in the Obama Administration as Deputy White House Liaison at the U.S. Department of Justice, helping lead the Department through the Obama–Trump presidential transition.

A first-generation Filipina immigrant raised in California’s East Bay, Bernal is committed to strengthening philanthropy’s role in advancing opportunity, equity, and long-term power for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. She resides in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and their three rescue pups.