Ramonita Garcia

MPA Fellows, Class of 2022

Donor Experience Officer, Greater Hartford Gives Foundation

Ramonita “Romy” Garcia is a Hartford-area native committed to strengthening communities through philanthropy, civic engagement, and meaningful opportunities for people to shape the places they call home. She currently serves as a Donor Experience Officer at the Greater Hartford Gives Foundation, where she works with donors and community members to deepen engagement in philanthropy and manages the Foundation’s Giving Circles. Through this work, she helps create opportunities for people to learn together, connect with one another, and collectively invest in organizations and initiatives that are strengthening Greater Hartford.

Prior to joining the Foundation, Romy built her career in education and family engagement. She began her work with Hartford Public Schools, serving in roles focused on college and career readiness, student engagement, family support, and program development. She later joined the Capital Region Education Council (CREC), where she served as a Family and Community Engagement Specialist, developing systems and initiatives designed to strengthen relationships between schools, families, and communities.

Romy holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Connecticut and a Master of Public Administration from the UConn School of Public Policy. She is also a co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Team Up, a service-focused organization that connects travel, community service, and philanthropy. She remains deeply connected to the Greater Hartford community through her volunteer and civic involvement, including her longstanding involvement with Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc. and the Connecticut Institute for Community Development – Puerto Rican Parade Committee.

“The MPA Fellows program was an important part of my professional growth because it strengthened my skills in leadership, public policy, organizational management, and community engagement while also expanding my understanding of how different sectors can work together to create meaningful change. While my work has evolved from education and family engagement into philanthropy, the skills and perspective I developed through the MPA Fellows program continue to inform how I approach my work, that is with a focus on listening to communities, building relationships, and creating opportunities for people to be part of the solutions.”