UniHealth Foundation is pleased to announce that Rosa Benitez will be joining our staff in July 2026 as our Senior Program Manager. Benitez will serve as a key leader in UniHealth’s grantmaking, working with hospitals, universities, and community-based organizations toward a vision of improving health outcomes in Southern California.

With over 25 years of experience across the philanthropic, public, and nonprofit sectors, Benitez brings her deep expertise in grantmaking, impact investing, and affordable housing. She comes to UniHealth from an 18-year tenure at Weingart Foundation, where she most recently held the role of Director of Program Investments. In this position, Benitez led the Program-Related Investment (PRI) Program, deploying mission-aligned capital to advance economic opportunity and support communities underrepresented in mainstream financial systems. Her background also includes roles at California Community Foundation, City of Ontario Housing Department, Fair Housing Council of San Gabriel Valley, and Mental Health Advocacy Services.

“Rosa has long been a transformative leader in our community, respected for her dedication, tenacity, and commitment to enhancing the health and wellness of Californians,” remarks Jennifer Vanore, PhD, President and COO of UniHealth Foundation. “The significant inroads she has made in strengthening Southern California’s safety net have created a wealth of knowledge that UniHealth is grateful to draw upon as we address social determinants of health in our community.”

Benitez is an active member of several regional and national groups, including the Community Investment Guarantee Pool Advisory Committee, Women in Institutional Investments Network, Mission Investors Exchange Portfolio Managers Working Group, and the Southern California Impact Investing Group. In these roles, she collaborates with partners working to expand equitable access to capital and strengthen the social impact investment ecosystem.

She holds a Master of Public Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from California State University, Los Angeles.