Berkeley College Foundation Welcomes New Board of Directors Member

The Berkeley College Foundation recently welcomed Nico Caraballo, founder of Nicasio & Co. Horology, as the newest member of its Board of Directors. Caraballo has more than 25 years of experience in nonprofit operations, development/fundraising, programming, and event coordination. The appointment was approved by the Berkeley College Foundation Board of Directors in May 2025. Caraballo is a resident of Linden, NJ.

“Service to the community is something that is part of my DNA,” Caraballo said. “As a long-time nonprofit development officer and executive, I look forward to using my experiences in the nonprofit world to help the Berkeley College Foundation and overall community by acquiring more resources to fund even more scholarships.”

The Berkeley College Foundation held its inaugural Scholarship Awards Dinner in 2017, and since that time has awarded nearly $274,000 in scholarships to 75 academically deserving, need-based students.

“Nico’s passion and commitment to the nonprofit sector is truly impressive,” said Ellen Zitis, Executive Director, Berkeley College Foundation. “His expertise in fundraising, grant procurement, and strategic planning, as well as his enthusiasm, will benefit the Berkley College Foundation, and we are delighted to have him on board.”

Caraballo most recently served as Chief Development Officer for Ironbound Community Corporation, a community-based organization that delivers programs and services to improve the quality of life for East Ward residents of Newark, NJ. He has also served in leadership roles with the Office of Special Education at Newark Public Schools; Little Kids Rock, a national music education nonprofit; and Catchafire, an online skills-based volunteer platform and marketplace for nonprofit capacity building. Caraballo recently founded the luxury watch company Nicasio & Co. Horology, a social impact venture that reflects his philanthropic roots by contributing a portion of its proceeds to nonprofit organizations.