New Staff Members Plan to Grow the NASW Foundation’s Programs

Foundation

The NASW Foundation has welcomed two new staff members. Darrel Gibson was recently named development and strategic partnership director, while Amanda Gonzales has joined the Foundation as project manager.

Darrel Gibson

Gibson comes to the Foundation as a nationally respected fundraising executive with more than 25 years of experience across higher education, nonprofit and workforce sectors.

As vice president of development for the Home Builders Institute, he drove strategic fundraising initiatives that supported institutional growth, expanded BuildStrong Academies nationwide, and deepened engagement with high-net-worth donors and corporate partners.

He held pivotal leadership roles at the Association of General Contractors of America Education & Research Foundation, where he most recently served as executive director.

Gibson’s tenure at Georgetown University Medical Center, George Mason University’s Scalia Law School, and The Ohio State University is marked by record-breaking capital campaigns, seven-figure naming gifts, and innovative donor engagement strategies.

At the American Heart Association, he helped build the organization’s first nationwide charitable trust management program and dramatically increased major and planned gift commitments.

“I spent the bulk of my career in higher education before transitioning to associations and foundations,” Gibson explained. ”What captivated me about working in higher education and fundraising was representing an organization of people that felt good about what they do, from student support to representing member needs. That has always been a big driver for me.”

“I always try to align myself with a nameplate organization that really provides a service for potential donors and with donors that align themselves with an organization that has merit,” he said.

Gibson is particularly proud of a career milestone: working with the Association of General Contractors of America, the leading association for the construction industry with more than 27,000 member firms. He helped its foundation establish a six-figure scholarship endowment to provide financial aid for students attending historically Black colleges and universities interested in construction careers.

“That was a very satisfying project,” Gibson said.

Some goals he has for the NASW Foundation are to increase its visibility and ensure members are aware of the many programs the Foundation produces. These programs ensure the growth of social work, from social work advocacy efforts, workforce support, student scholarships, and more. He wants to diversify the fundraising imprint of the Foundation as well.

Gibson said he plans to grow the Foundation’s Social Work Pioneers program, which honors social workers who have made significant contributions to the profession. “We would like to increase the opportunity for people to be included in that select group of individuals who have distinguished themselves in this field,” he said.

Gibson said having a foundation gives NASW “the opportunity to provide an outlet for fundraising and engagement. Many people who are part of associations understand what the association can do for them—be that advocacy, programming or continuing education. The foundation can do some of that, but it also allows the opportunity to invest in the lifeline of the industry from a philanthropic perspective.”

“In organizations like NASW, it’s important that there is a separate and viable A 501(c) (nonprofit organization),” he added. “Even though we are a separate 501(c) from NASW, we get a lot of support from NASW. We see NASW as a true partner and we want to work well with NASW to service the needs of our members.”

Amanda Gonzales

New Project Manager

Joining Gibson on the Foundation team is Project Manager Amanda Gonzales, LCSW, PMP, who will play a key role in leading the administration of current grants and exploring new opportunities. She will work closely with NASW and chapter staff to ensure smooth coordination and success across all projects.

Gonzales brings more than 15 years of experience working on federal, state and local programs and providing direct services to children and families in foster care, early intervention and school settings.

As a certified project management professional, she combines her clinical experience with project management principles to lead projects, coordinate resources, promote collaboration, build relationships with key stakeholders, and address complex issues.

Gonzales said she decided to study social work after she spent a year in AmeriCorps working on community projects across five different states and then a year teaching English in Ecuador and traveling in Latin America.

“I wanted to do work that helps people and makes a positive impact,” she said. “I also liked that social work had different options—micro vs. macro work, research, policy, and specializing work with different populations.”

She started her social work career focusing on immigrant and refugee populations. While working at a refugee resettlement agency, Gonzales managed a federal grant supporting Burundian refugees resettled in the U.S. after living for years in refugee camps.

“On that grant, I managed the budget, reporting, task planning, and completion of all the deliverables,” she said. “I created life skills materials specifically for this refugee group, conducted focus groups and pilot-testing, organized community gatherings with local refugee leaders, and presented at several national conferences.”

After a few years working on immigrant and refugee issues, she decided to broaden the population she was working with and learn more about child welfare issues.

“I thought the best place to start was working in the foster care system in Washington, D.C.,” she said. “It was work that left a lasting impression on me and led me to later work in children’s mental health.”

Gonzales noted she has gone back and forth between macro and micro social work since grad school. ”I enjoy direct services, but I also like working with large-scale programs,” she said. “A few years ago, I left school social work to work on a federal contract for the Office of Refugee Resettlement and grew more interested in project management. I love the variety in project management and the overlap it has with social work.”

Gonzales’ first experience with NASW was as a student in the MSW program at the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis. She was elected to serve as the MSW student representative on the NASW Missouri board of directors. In her new role, Gonzales said she would like to build out the Foundation’s grants program, find opportunities in new areas to support social workers, capitalize on NASW’s strengths, and develop effective processes and partnerships.

“I hope to produce valuable content that our members can use in their work and continue to support the social work profession,” she said.

More information: NASWFoundation.org

Foundation Donations

The NASW Foundation extends its thanks to all NASW members and friends who lend their financial support, with special thanks to the following for their contributions of $100 or more, from Jan. 16, 2026, to April 17, 2026. All donors are listed at. naswfoundation.org.

We appreciate all donations, including those donated through a Donor Advised Fund or a Retirement Fund.

Social Work Public Education Campaign

Linda Katz

Foundation General Fund

Georgia Anetzberger
Barbara Graham
Julie Konigsberg

Memorial and Tribute Fund

Wilma Peebles-Wilkins

Social Work Pioneers®

Georgia Anetzberger

Pin Program – Public Education Silver Pin

Austin Peay State University
Monmouth University Department of Social Work
Northwestern Oklahoma State University
Plymouth State University
Southern University at New Orleans
Spring Arbor University
University of Southern Mississippi School of Social Work

Legal Defense Fund

John Turturro