Staff

FRANCISCO BUCHTING (he/him)

Vice President of Grants, Programs, and Communications

As Vice President of Grants, Programs, and Communications at Horizons Foundation, Francisco oversees all of the foundation’s grantmaking, programmatic strategies, and communication activities. He also spearheads the Global Faith and Equality Fund – a 17 years spend down initiative funding at the intersection of Faith, LGBTI rights, and Reproductive Justice. Francisco brings to Horizons a background as a research scientist, a public health professional, and an experienced grantmaker.

His 25 plus years of experience in government, philanthropy, and nonprofit organizations include forming private-public partnerships, leading knowledge brokerage initiatives, and problem-solving through a mix of creative yet simple solutions with clear implementation and success metrics. Francisco’s career includes a bilingual clinical practice in behavioral medicine with a special focus on chronic diseases, co-authored a bimonthly newspaper column, written numerous research articles, and produced research reports. He has also served on numerous community-based organization boards and museum advisories.

Francisco, holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in clinical psychology from Boston University, along with bachelor’s degrees in philosophy and psychology from the University of California, Davis.

JENNIFER CATES (She/Her)

Events Manager

Jennifer brings over a decade of events experience to Horizons. She came up producing events for non-profits in the bay area focusing on education, affordable housing, and youth services. She then expanded into the private sector to increase her skill set and gather new and fresh ideas for how to bring events to the next level.

Coming in to Horizons, she is excited to bring her years of experience and passion for the community into creating exciting and impactful events in the coming years.

JOSHUA DELFIN (he/him)

Senior Program Officer

Joshua has been in the nonprofit sector for over 15 years and comes to Horizons Foundation with a depth of experience with diverse and intersectional social justice initiatives. Prior to joining Horizons Foundation, Joshua was a Program Officer at Common Counsel Foundation, where he focused on funding grassroots organizations and frontline communities, including workers’ rights and environmental justice organizations. He managed Native Voices Rising, a participatory grantmaking partnership between Native Americans in Philanthropy and Common Counsel Foundation.

Joshua has held positions at the National Center for Lesbian Rights, Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, and the Greenlining Institute. He has completed leadership development programs that include Justice Funders’ Harmony Initiative, the Hispanics in Philanthropy Líderes program, and the San Francisco Foundation Multicultural Program. At SFF, he focused on early childhood education, full-service community schools, and the LGBTQ fund. Joshua holds a BA in Sociology and Women’s Studies and an MA in Equity and Social Justice in Education.

ROGER DOUGHTY (he/him)

President

Roger has been an activist and leader in the LGBT movement for more than 25 years, and he has led Horizons Foundation since 2002. Prior to joining the foundation, he served as the Executive Director of Horizons Community Services in Chicago, the Midwest’s largest LGBT social service and advocacy organization.

During Roger’s tenure at Horizons, the foundation has dramatically increased its grantmaking, capacity, and overall asset base. He oversaw creation of the LGBT Community Endowment Fund for the community’s future; helped bring millions of dollars in funds from mainstream foundations to our community, and has been a national and local leader in multi-year efforts to increase philanthropic giving to LGBTQ causes.

In Chicago, Roger led that organization’s expansion into the Chicago LGBT Community Center, known as the Center on Halsted. Before moving to Chicago, he was the Director of Programs for the Los Angeles LGBT Center, where he oversaw the Center’s 40-plus programs and services. Roger’s San Francisco background includes his tenure in the law firm of Heller Ehrman, where he specialized in refugee, immigration, and asylum cases involving people fleeing from gender and sexual orientation-related discrimination.

Roger also has served as president of the Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance in Washington, D.C., and was Associate Director of the Coro Foundation. He serves on the boards of Northern California Grantmakers and as Board Chair of OutRight Action International, the world’s leading LGBTIQ human rights organization. Roger holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Williams College, a master’s degree from the Goldman School of Public Policy at the University of California, Berkeley, and a J.D. from the UC Berkeley School of Law.

SOFIA FIGUEROA (She/Her)

Communications Specialist

Having worked with non-profits and LGBTQ organizations in the California Central Valley, Sofia hopes to bring her passion for the community and her expertise in design to Horizons Foundation. Formerly, Sofia has served as President of Lambda Alliance at UC Merced, a student-led queer organization focused on education, inclusion, and the uplifting of QTPOC voices both on-campus and in Merced County.

Sofia is a University of California, Merced alumna with a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and Engineering. Outside of work, she can be found creating artwork, thrifting for pins and vinyl records, playing the piano, or otherwise developing personal projects alongside her friends.

Amie Haiz (She/Her)

Chief Financial Officer

Amie is the Chief Financial Officer at Horizons Foundation. With over two decades of experience in nonprofit finance and operational leadership, Amie has a history of prudent financial management and has been instrumental in organizational growth. Prior to joining Horizons, Amie served in several finance and operations leadership roles in San Francisco nonprofits, including Pacific Primary, Mission Bay Alliance, and the Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern California.

Amie has also dedicated time serving on local boards, such as CFO of Daly City Public Library Associates, Treasurer of Pacific Primary, and as a Board Member and Financial Aid Committee member at Synergy School.

With a longstanding commitment to social justice, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, Amie is dedicated to supporting the LGBTQ+ community and committed to the long-term financial success of Horizons Foundation.

Jeremy Rye (He/him)

Chief Philanthropy Officer

Jeremy has worked in the social justice sector for over 20 years in varying capacities, including 14 years as a fundraiser at leading civil and human rights nonprofits where he’s secured funds to support cutting-edge litigation and advocacy, as a grantmaker at prominent social justice philanthropies working on special projects and building new grantmaking initiatives, and in tech to scale nascent social impact programs. His career has spanned issue areas such as racial justice, civil rights, immigrant rights, criminal justice reform, gender justice, LGBTQ+ justice, A.I., international human rights, national security, disaster relief, and climate justice.

Jeremy graduated from UC Davis with a BA in Sociology and minors in Asian American Studies and Community & Regional Development. A longtime LGBTQ+ activist, Jeremy currently serves on the Board of the National LGBTQ Task Force.

Maritza Martinez (she/her/ella)

LBTQ Initiative Manager

Maritza is the LBTQ Initiative Manager at Horizons Foundation, bringing decades of experience in organizational development in the nonprofit sector. Before joining Horizons, she served as the Executive Director of Somos Familia and was a founding member of the LGBTQ Latinx Giving Circle at the Latino Community Foundation. Maritza has held positions at Green for All (now Dream Corps), New York Needs You (now America Needs You), and Echoing Green. She is also a Rise Up Leader from the inaugural California cohort of the Gender Equity Institute and was named to the Honor 41 list of Latinx LGBTQ role models in 2020.

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of the District of Columbia and a Master’s degree in Nonprofit Management from the Milano School of Policy, Management, and Environment at the New School. Originally from Queens, New York, Maritza now lives in Oakland, California.

HENRY PACHECO (He/Him)

Director of Philanthropic Services

Henry has been in the non-profit sector for over 19 years working with small and large organizations to meet strategic objectives through fund development, donor stewardship, marketing, and event management. He has worked on staff or as a consultant for a wide range of community based organizations including domestic and international LGBTQ+ advocacy NGO’s, youth education, senior healthcare, and fine arts organizations.

Henry graduated from San Francisco State University with a Bachelor of Science in Design and Industry. Henry currently sits on the Board of Trustees for Leadership High School in San Francisco as well as on the Board of Directors for the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) – Golden Gate Chapter. Outside of work Henry enjoys cooking, reading, hiking, and meeting people.

Isidra Varela Rosas (She/Her)

Administrative Assistant

Isidra, a native of Los Angeles and a graduate of UC Berkeley, holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography with minors in Food Systems and Conservation and Resource Studies. With a strong background in administrative support and customer service, she brings over five years of experience to the table. Her professional journey reflects a commitment to community engagement and service. Isidra has organized workshops, managed event logistics and budgets, and served as a mentor in programs guiding individuals through their academic and career paths.

She has also led research and conducted presentations to raise awareness on environmental issues. In her recent roles, Isidra has demonstrated her ability to manage tasks ranging from processing data to providing quality assurance support on various platforms. Passionate about social justice and community empowerment, Isidra is eager to contribute to the impactful work of Horizons Foundation. Her bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish, along with her experience in diverse outreach initiatives, align perfectly with the foundation’s mission.

Outside of her professional endeavors, Isidra enjoys spending quality time with loved ones, exploring new destinations, and savoring diverse cuisines.

Talia Rossi (she/her)

Development Support Administrator

Talia joins Horizons Foundation with seven years of experience in fundraising, database management, and donor outreach. She has worked with several Bay Area nonprofits, most recently serving as the Development Operations and Communications Coordinator at East Bay Center for the Performing Arts.

Talia holds a bachelor’s degree in English Rhetoric and Language from the University of Puget Sound. Passionate about promoting equity and change through grassroots philanthropy, she is excited to bring her experience to Horizons Foundation.

Justin Seiter (he/him)

Senior Communications Manager

Justin spearheads Horizons Foundation’s external content, oversees all digital communications, and leads the organization’s media strategy. With over 10 years of experience in nonprofit media, communications, public policy and international development, Justin brings a range of skills to Horizons Foundation.

Beginning in 2010, Justin served as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Dominican Republic, organizing youth and education projects in rural communities. After a brief stint researching and writing for California Magazine, Justin worked for the Asian American Journalists Association coordinating conferences, summer camps for young journalists, media workshops and special reporting projects that advanced media diversity and elevated under-told stories. Prior to joining Horizons Foundation, Justin served in communications and marketing roles at the Bay Area Council and World Affairs. He has a Bachelor of Arts in mass communications and history from Benedictine College.

A recovering “news junkie,” Justin is trying to get out more. You may spot him on an urban hike, an airplane, a basketball court or the ferry to Angel Island.

Julianne Zuniga (she/her)

Individual Giving and Major Gifts Officer

Julianne serves as the Individual Giving and Major Gifts Officer at Horizons Foundation, drawing on seven years of experience in higher education. She is set to earn her master’s degree in public administration in Fall 2024.

Julianne is dedicated to supporting the LGBTQ+ community and brings a wealth of experience in management, philanthropy, and fundraising, as well as over 15 years in customer service.

Board, Staff, and Advisors