Pilar Gonzales  is a philanthropic advisor, a worklife coach, and a nonprofit consultant. She serves donors and their families, and leaders along with their organizations nationally and in our Bay Area.

During 2011, Pilar was interviewed by both the Chronicle of Philanthropy and by Bolder Giving regarding her philanthropy.  Her piece on "giving anonymously or giving openly"posted on the Classism.org site in December 2011.  In 2010, her personal story ran on NPR’s Marketplace, “Giving Away a Big Chunk of It.”  

In December 2007, People Magazine featured her as one of the “Heroes Among Us" for her commitment to helping marginalized immigrant workers.

Before her practice, Pilar proudly began her fundraising career at the Women's Foundation of San Francisco (now the Women's Foundation of California) under the leadership of once-Executive Director, Kit Durgin.

Pilar reached the level of CEO/President at Changemakers in SF.  And in 2005, she received the Flying Eagle Woman Award from Native Americans in Philanthropy.  She has taught countless workshops on fundraising, donor relations, and believes in the transformative power of fundraising as a social change tool-especially for women. 

Pilar has been a part of an innovative team at RSF Social Finance, producing Conversations on Money, Race, and Class for the last few years.  And for the last 7 years, her activism has focused on advocating for heat illness standards for workers in California. 

Pilar credits her rural upbringing and her heritage as the granddaughter of farmworkers and factory workers for the resilience she’s given in doing this meaningful work.   

"You were the perfect coach for me. 
Your deep insights into the issues facing women of color
in leadership helped me see the social system
I am working in. That allowed us to separate the
specific skillsets I needed to improve from the environmental
factors that required social change. You were willing
to share your own successes and failures,
and that made me trust you completely."
 
Meizhu Lui, Director
Closing The Racial Wealth Gap Initiative