Eric Depalma

About Eric Depalma

I’ve worked in the nonprofit sector for my entire career (started in college). My specialties include event management, community engagement, and building cross-department development systems, My background is in anthropology — I hold both a B.A. and M.A. — which I now use to decode the organizational behavior of mission-driven institutions, often with the same analytical lens one might apply to a troop of capuchins. I\'m interested in how systems adapt (or don’t), how people survive them (or don’t), and how we build better ones — without asking underpaid staff to “bring their full selves” to a workplace that doesn’t offer dental.Over the last five years, I’ve led development departments, built fundraising infrastructures, managed multi-million dollar budgets, and produced events designed to foster real connection (not just another panel with a Q&A no one asked for). I’ve implemented CRMs, cultivated major donors, pulled the analytics, managed cross-functional teams, and helped secure more than $4 million in funding across roles.I believe deeply in impact — and just as deeply in infrastructure. Because programs don’t sustain themselves, and good intentions don’t pay the rent.Right now I’m focused on building a cross-sector initiative called Partnership.LA, a collaborative summit and year-round project that supports small to medium sized nonprofits in achieving their missions. If you’re interested in collaboration, tech, or primates we probably have something to talk about!

Experience

1. Ambassador

   The Nonprofit Hive

   Feb 2026 — Present

Education

• California State University, Fullerton

  Master's degree, Evolutionary Anthropology

  2019 — 2021

• California State University, Fullerton

  Bachelor's degree, Anthropology

  2015 — 2019