Carmela Carreño, CFRE, CAP, serves as Director of Development at Safe Parking LA, where she leads fundraising, communications, and community engagement to expand the organization’s base of support. She built and now leads the organization’s development function, focusing on strengthening donor relationships and the systems that sustain long-term fundraising. Her work is grounded in community-centered principles that emphasize equity, dignity, and authentic partnership between donors, community members, and the people Safe Parking LA serves.
Carmela brings more than 20 years of nonprofit experience with organizations working on issues of equity, civic engagement, and poverty alleviation, including United Way of Santa Barbara County, Just Communities Central Coast, Transition House, the League of Women Voters, and the Grassroots Institute for Fundraising Training.
She is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) and Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP). Carmela serves on the board of the Association of Fundraising Professionals Greater San Fernando Valley Chapter and remains active in community life through volunteer and consulting work supporting grassroots, civic, and faith-based organizations.
Carmela believes deeply in the role nonprofits play in building healthier communities and advancing social change. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a certificate in project management from UCSB Extension. A proud extrovert, she’s happiest when she’s in the company of those she loves—especially her daughter, Sasha, her sons, Alex and Nico, and her partner, Nick.