Roque Barros

Roque Barros serves as Executive Director of the Imperial Valley Wellness Foundation, transforming rural philanthropy by focusing on civic infrastructure rather than conventional institution building. Drawing from over three decades of leadership experience, including directing the Ford Institute for Community Building and serving as interim president at Jacobs Family Foundation, Roque has pioneered community-driven frameworks across urban and rural settings.

His groundbreaking work recently secured a historic $7.5 million contribution, enabling IVWF to operate in perpetuity by shifting from a traditional grantor/grantee relationship to equity partnership that drives resources directly to the community. As both a funder and Rural Development Hub, IVWF empowers communities to lead their own change through resident engagement and capacity building.

Under Roque’s leadership, IVWF has gained national recognition from the Aspen Institute and received funding from the Trust for Civic Life for its work as a civic and rural development hub.