PhilanthropyMiami is thrilled to introduce Fernanda Kuchkarian as our new founding Executive Director! With over two decades of experience in community impact and programmatic excellence, Fernanda brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to our organization.

She previously served as Director of Programs at the Health Foundation of South Florida where she led the development, management, and evaluation of the Foundation’s community investments and related program activities to advance health equity in the region. Since joining the Foundation in 2015 as a Program Officer, she spearheaded creative, data-driven plans to advance the Foundation’s mission resulting in over $15M awarded to non-profit organizations across Broward, Miami-Dade, and Monroe Counties.

She began her career at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine (UMMSM) where she worked for 11 years on a diversity of public health initiatives, most notably implementing a telehealth research program at the world-renowned Ryder Trauma Center. She also consulted with a start-up telehealth company to provide specialty teleconsultations and education to remote civilian and government medical facilities.

Active in the community, Fernanda serves as a member of several committees and volunteers her time with organizations such as the United Way of Miami-Dade, The Miami Foundation, Thriving Mind South Florida, PEAK Grantmaking, and the Florida Association of Free and Charitable Clinics. She is a recent graduate of the Leadership Miami Program of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce. A native of São Paulo, Brazil, Fernanda has lived in South Florida for over 30 years. She holds a B.A. in Anthropology and a Master’s in Public Health from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine as well as a business certificate from the School of Business Administration.

Please join us in welcoming Fernanda Kuchkarian to the PhilanthropyMiami team! We are excited to have her leadership and expertise as we continue our mission of making a positive impact in our community.