Carlos A. Trejo

Director of Development, Surge Institute

Carlos is a fund development professional and DEI advocate in the nonprofit sector. He has worked to establish sustainable fundraising practices and strengthen relationships between donors and organizations throughout his career. Currently, he serves as the Director of Development for the Surge Institute, a national leadership development organization that empowers leaders of color to create transformative change in urban education. In his role, he works to manage and enhance individual giving through fundraising campaigns and donor engagement opportunities. Before joining Surge in October 2021, he worked for Marillac St. Vincent Family Services, a social service organization, where he established a sustainable annual giving program and strengthened communication with donors. Carlos is an active member of the nonprofit community. He has been a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals since 2012 and joined the Chicago Chapter’s Board of Directors in 2019. He served as the Vice President of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access in 2020 and serves as Secretary in 2022. He is also the founder of AFP Chicago’s Latinx Affinity Group, which provides a space for Latinx-identifying fundraising professionals to come together to network, share resources, and build community. He is an experienced public speaker, facilitator, and a proud alum of the YNPN Chicago Executive Board. His career in the nonprofit sector began through various internships as a student at DePaul University, and he has maintained an interest in social justice issues around the world. His hobbies include traveling, learning new languages, hearing live music, finding new restaurants and foods to eat, going to the movies, and playing video games. A lifelong Chicagoan, he resides in the Gage Park neighborhood on the city's southwest side.