Adrian Naranjo serves as NHeLP’s Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer, bringing more than two decades of experience in nonprofit and philanthropic leadership. He oversees the organization’s core business, including operations, finance, people and culture, IT, and administration, focusing on aligning strategy, people, and resources to support NHeLP’s mission.
Since joining NHeLP in 2018, Adrian has significantly transformed the organization’s financial and operational infrastructure. He manages a $12 million annual budget and oversees over $20 million in assets. He was instrumental in developing NHeLP’s first telecommuting policy, which laid the foundation for a smooth transition to remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic. Adrian also played a central role in launching the Mission Coordination Team, an internal leadership group that strategically connects operations, finance, administration, IT, and People & Culture. As part of this work, he has partnered with staff, leadership, and external consultants to develop compensation structures and benefit enhancements that better reflect staff needs and support the organization’s long-term goals.
He works closely with the Board and Executive Director on financial governance and helps ensure that operational practices reflect NHeLP’s values and evolving priorities.
Before joining NHeLP, Adrian held executive roles at organizations across the Americas, including the Trust for the Americas (OAS), Avina Americas, and UnidosUS. His career spans programmatic and operational work in over a dozen countries, focused on education, sustainable development, and economic inclusion. He also founded Avanti, a consulting firm that supported small businesses with strategic planning and operations.
Adrian holds an MBA in Business Planning & Strategy Development from the University of Maryland Global Campus and completed Harvard Business School’s “Succeeding as a Strategic CFO” program.
A global citizen at heart, Adrian enjoys learning about cultures through travel, food, and conversation. His favorite role of all: proud dad.
