The Berkeley College Foundation has announced the appointment of board member Nico Caraballo as executive director.
Caraballo has over 26 years of nonprofit and executive leadership experience in fundraising and institutional advancement, strategic partnerships, external affairs, and community engagement. He most recently served as chief development officer for Ironbound Community Corporation, which delivers programs and services to residents of Newark’s East Ward.
A Linden resident, Caraballo has also served in leadership roles with the Office of Special Education at Newark Public Schools; Little Kids Rock, a national music education nonprofit; and Catchafire, an online skills-based volunteer platform and marketplace for nonprofit capacity building. He has served on the Berkeley College Foundation’s board since May 2025.
“Through his service on the Board of Directors of the Berkeley College Foundation, Nico Caraballo has demonstrated a deep commitment to its mission of advancing student success,” said John Phillips, chair, Board of Directors, Berkeley College Foundation. “His leadership and ability to build strong community relationships will strengthen the Foundation’s partnerships and expand its positive impact.”
Caraballo recently graduated from the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey Entrepreneurship Training Program and is a member of the Chamber’s Latino Entrepreneurship Training Series. He serves on the Executive Board of the Linden Economic Development Corporation, where he is involved in supporting economic development and business growth in the city.
Caraballo is founder of the luxury watch company Nicasio & Co. Horology, a social impact venture that reflects his philanthropic roots by contributing a portion of its proceeds to nonprofit organizations.
“I have built my career around the belief that doing well and doing good should never be mutually exclusive,” Caraballo said. “Talent and ambition are everywhere, but opportunity is not. I am excited to lead the Berkeley College Foundation as we build on its strong base, expand the community of people and institutions invested in our students, and help remove the barriers that can stand between them and everything they are capable of achieving.”
The mission of the Berkeley College Foundation is to provide support and resources to students pursuing quality experiences in higher education. Since the foundation held its inaugural Scholarship Awards Dinner in 2017, it has awarded nearly $340,000 in need-based scholarships to more than 90 high-achieving students.
The foundation awards scholarships are awarded to current and prospective students to help defray the cost of tuition and to enhance participation in educational enrichment activities. The foundation also supports the food pantries at Berkeley College campuses in Woodland Park, Newark, and New York City.
Caraballo’s appointment as executive director was effective, Aug. 31.
