Vice President, Programs, Weingart Foundation
Belen Vargas is vice president, programs, at Weingart Foundation, where she oversees the foundation’s grant strategy and planning, communications, and overall program assessment. Vargas first joined the foundation in 2000 and has served in a variety of roles, including program associate, program officer, senior program officer, associate vice president, grant operations, and vice president, grant operations. She assumed her current role in 2014.
Vargas began her professional career in nonprofit legal services in Los Angeles County focused on advocacy and policy matters related to women’s issues and school inclusion issues for children with disabilities. Immediately prior to joining the foundation, Vargas worked at Public Counsel on the Childcare Law Project, providing outreach and education for child care providers.
Vargas is a graduate of the Council on Foundations’ Career Pathways leadership program. She serves on the boards of directors of Southern California Grantmakers and the Durfee Foundation, and she is a regular instructor with Southern California Grantmakers’ “Fundamentals of Grantmaking” program. She holds a J.D. from the University of Southern California School of Law.