Aleda Gagarin

As Vice President of Development, Aleda leads Candid’s Development division — elevated from a department within her former Influence portfolio into its own function, with a mandate to grow contributed revenue to $10M over the next three years. She partners closely with the CEO and Board to strengthen funder relationships, sharpen Candid’s case for support, and build the systems, team, and culture needed to sustain a high-performing development function. Her tenure as Vice President of Influence, where she also led Communications and Brand Awareness and Partnerships, continues to shape how she tells Candid’s story to funders and the sector. Known for developing talent and building strong teams, Aleda is energized by this next chapter’s sharper focus on fundraising.

Aleda is passionate about making connections, solving problems, advocating for resources, and shifting power structures. She began her career in the social sector as a program assistant at the General Federation of Women’s Clubs in 2004, later served as sales and membership coordinator for Institutional Investor, and worked with North Star Planning and Evaluation Consultants as a researcher. Aleda joined Candid via the Foundation Center in 2013 as a development associate, and advanced through development manager, director, and senior director of development, to associate vice president of development, vice president of influence, and, following a 2026 organizational realignment that concentrated her focus on fundraising, vice president of development.

Aleda holds a B.A. in international studies from American University and a master’s degree in urban planning from Hunter College with a focus on community advocacy. In her spare time, Aleda is active in community and electoral organizing, spending quality time with her family in Queens, and on sunny days can be found at The People’s Beach at Jacob Riis Park.