COLLEGE TRACK TAPS NONPROFIT LEADER CAROLINA MARTÍN AS NEW CHIEF PHILANTHROPY OFFICER TO AMPLIFY IMPACT
Oakland, CA (June 25, 2025) – College Track, a nationwide, comprehensive college completion program that makes a 10-year commitment to supporting students from underserved communities in their journey to become the first in their families to earn a bachelor’s degree, is proud to announce the appointment of Carolina Martín as its new Chief Philanthropy Officer, effective July 14, 2025.
Carolina is a highly accomplished fundraiser, nonprofit executive, and educational advocate who brings over two decades of strategic leadership experience to College Track. With a distinguished career focused on advancing educational equity and opportunity, she has a proven track record of leading high-performing development teams, securing transformative funding, and forging strategic partnerships with major donors, foundations, and corporations. Most recently, Carolina served as Vice President of Development at Code.org, a renowned educational nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to computer science in schools and increasing participation by young women and students from underrepresented groups.
Her extensive leadership experience includes serving as Chief Development Officer at Breakthrough San Francisco Day School, where she significantly expanded funding for educational programs, and as a senior leader at DonorsChoose, where she drove innovative crowdfunding initiatives to support classroom resources. Carolina also held leadership roles at United Way Bay Area, spearheading community impact campaigns, and at the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, where she advanced scholarship programs for Hispanic students. A graduate of the University of San Diego, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Education and Master of Education in Educational Leadership, Carolina combines strategic vision with a deep commitment to fostering inclusion in education and professional spaces.
As Chief Philanthropy Officer, Carolina will lead College Track’s efforts to deepen donor engagement, advance a multi-year strategy, and enhance cross-organizational collaboration to amplify the organization’s impact. Her leadership will further equip College Track to provide transformative academic, and social-emotional support to first-generation college students, ensuring their success in higher education and beyond.
“Carolina brings tremendous professional experience to College Track and her life’s work has been defined by a deep commitment to education and opportunity,” says Dr. Shirley M. Collado, College Track’s President & CEO. “Carolina is joining our team at a time when the work that we do at College Track is so urgent. Ensuring that first-generation college students earn an affordable bachelor’s degree has real implications for the future of our country – our ability to remain competitive as a nation relies upon the economic, professional, and social mobility for young people from all walks of life. Carolina’s leadership and dedication contributes greatly to our movement to democratize potential.”
“I am profoundly honored to assume the role of Chief Philanthropy Officer at College Track, an organization leading the charge in addressing systemic educational inequities and empowering first-generation and underserved students,” said Carolina Martín. “Through collaborative engagement with our dedicated staff, philanthropic partners, and the communities we serve, I am committed to fostering transformative partnerships and forging innovative strategies that advance our collective vision of educational equity. This opportunity allows us to elevate our impact, deepen our connections, and create a legacy that ensures every scholar realizes their full potential.”
Carolina’s appointment coincides with College Track’s Semester Zero, a weeklong immersive experience at Northern Arizona University for rising 11th grade College Track scholars. During this program, she will connect with scholars and team members from across the country, gaining firsthand insight into the organization’s transformative work. Beyond her professional achievements, Carolina is a vibrant community leader, serving as president of her local school board. She finds joy in spending time in nature with her family and is a passionate supporter of her twin daughters at their sporting events.
About College Track
College Track’s mission is to democratize potential by equipping students confronting systemic barriers to earn a bachelor’s degree in pursuit of a life of opportunity, choice, purpose, and power. Today, more than 4,000 College Track high school and college students from underserved communities in California, Colorado, Louisiana, and D.C.-MD are moving toward their goal to become the first in their family to earn a bachelor’s degree. Across the nation, our 1,100 alumni embody a vision of equity rooted in possibility and progress. Ninety percent of our students are first-generation college students, and 84 percent are from underserved communities. They earn their bachelor’s degrees at more than two and a half times the rate of their first-generation peers.
To learn more about College Track and the impactful work being done to support first-generation and underserved students, visit collegetrack.org.
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