Berkeley College Foundation Names Nico Caraballo as Executive Director

The Berkeley College Foundation has announced the appointment of Nico Caraballo as Executive Director, effective August 31, 2026. Caraballo has served on the Foundation’s Board of Directors since May 2025. He is a resident of Linden, NJ.

“Through his service on the Board of Directors of the Berkeley College Foundation, Nico Caraballo has demonstrated a deep commitment to its mission of advancing student success,” said John Phillips, Chair, Board of Directors, Berkeley College Foundation. “His leadership and ability to build strong community relationships will strengthen the Foundation’s partnerships and expand its positive impact.”

Caraballo has more than 26 years of nonprofit and executive leadership experience in fundraising and institutional advancement, strategic partnerships, external affairs, and community engagement. He 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 graduated from the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey Entrepreneurship Training Program and is a member of the Chamber’s Latino Entrepreneurship Training Series. He serves on the Executive Board of the Linden Economic Development Corporation, where he is involved in supporting economic development and business growth in the city.

Caraballo is founder of 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.

“I have built my career around the belief that doing well and doing good should never be mutually exclusive,” Caraballo said. “Talent and ambition are everywhere, but opportunity is not. I am excited to lead the Berkeley College Foundation as we build on its strong base, expand the community of people and institutions invested in our students, and help remove the barriers that can stand between them and everything they are capable of achieving.”

The Foundation held its inaugural Scholarship Awards Dinner in 2017, and since that time has awarded nearly $340,000 in scholarships to more than 90 high-achieving, need-based students. The Foundation recently hosted its 9th Annual Golf Outing at Basking Ridge Golf Club in Basking Ridge, NJ, which supported the organization in its mission to propel students to college and career success.