Executive Director at Life Science Cares San Diego
At Blair Search Partners, we know that the right leadership can unlock an organization’s full potential. Through our Project Impact series, we highlight changemakers placed in mission-driven roles and explore the transformative effect they’ve had on their organizations and communities.
Today, we’re excited to feature Alicia Quinn Kitagawa, Executive Director of Life Science Cares San Diego. Since stepping into the role in July 2024, Alicia has helped bring together corporate partners, nonprofit leaders, and community advocates to expand opportunity and drive impact across the region.
Meet Alicia
Before joining Life Science Cares, Alicia served as Vice President of External Engagement for United Way of San Diego County, where she led fundraising, grants, and corporate partnerships.
Alicia describes her new role as “a really nice marriage” of the work she had been focused on for the last 10 to 15 years: venture philanthropy, corporate engagement, and impact-driven collaboration between the private and nonprofit sectors.
A Listening Tour and a Strategic Plan
Alicia joined Life Science Cares San Diego when the organization was still young. Founded in Boston in 2016 and launched locally in 2020, the San Diego office was beginning to build momentum just as the pandemic disrupted growth.
To set a clear course, she began with a listening tour, meeting with donors, corporate partners, nonprofit grantees, and board members to understand what had worked well and what could be improved.
Within a few months, she and the board moved into a formal strategic planning process. Rather than waiting a year to evaluate, Alicia and the board of managers—many of whom are leaders in the life sciences industry—embraced a forward-thinking approach. The plan became a flexible roadmap that could adapt to both opportunities and challenges.
That adaptability proved critical when, in early 2025, several nonprofit partners lost major funding streams due to cuts in federal funding. Life Science Cares responded by launching an emergency fundraising campaign that provided $320,000 in grants and scholarships. Although this shifted time and resources away from other pieces of the strategic plan, Alicia viewed it as the right move and one that ultimately strengthened the organization’s position in the philanthropic community.
Engaging the Life Science Network
Another highlight of Alicia’s first year has been building deeper engagement across the life sciences community. More than 20 new members joined the board of advisors, each making personal contributions and many actively volunteering.
Advisors and partners are contributing far beyond financial support. Some bring their children to pack food at Feeding San Diego. Others, with backgrounds in finance, are helping nonprofit leaders create scenario plans in response to sudden funding losses. Still others are exploring ways that advances in biotech and AI could be applied to strengthen nonprofit operations.
“It really takes a village,” Alicia reflected. “It isn’t that I came in and did all these amazing things all alone. Our board of managers is incredibly committed. Our board of advisors, our corporate partners, all of whom are facing their own set of industry challenges…are doubling down on giving back to the community.”
A Collective Love for Humankind
At the heart of this work is a shared commitment to humanity.
As Alicia explained, “The root word of philanthropy is love for humankind, and the people in the life sciences industry have a love for humankind. They want to find cures to disease, they want to improve the health and wellness of people around the world. To be able to translate that same commitment to people in our backyard who are in significant need is a huge tribute to them.”
Since its inception, Life Science Cares San Diego has distributed more than $4 million in grants, including $1.9 million last year. Through both long-term initiatives and emergency response efforts, the organization is becoming a vital bridge between San Diego’s thriving life sciences sector and local communities in need.
The BSP Difference: Building Trust in the Process
The sense of alignment and shared values that Alicia found in the life sciences community also came through during her recruitment process. She recalls that Blair Search Partners played an important role in helping her make the decision to step into the role, ensuring she had the chance to connect deeply with board members before accepting the position.
“I give Blair Search Partners credit for that,” she said. “They really made sure that I was having the opportunity to have lots of one-on-one and small group conversations with board members to really understand their commitment, their pain points, and their priorities before I signed the contract.”
Alicia also highlighted the role of BSP Senior Director of Executive Search & Recruiting, Sarah Thompson. “Sarah is one of those professionals who really serves clients, the organization for whom she’s recruiting, as well as the candidates,” Alicia explained. “Sometimes recruiters lean one way or the other, but she is very professional, very transparent, and she creates opportunities to make sure it’s a good fit for both sides.”
Looking Ahead
As she reflects on her first year, Alicia feels grateful for both the challenges and the progress that have shaped the organization. With a newly expanded team, a committed board, and a thriving industry network behind her, she sees Life Science Cares San Diego continuing to grow as a powerful connector.
Alicia described her work with Life Science Cares as a joy, pointing out that the spirit of giving back is embedded in the DNA of the life sciences community. She added that she feels grateful and blessed to serve in this role, emphasizing that the collective impact would not be possible without the strength of the network.
Your Next Opportunity Starts Here
We are incredibly proud of the impact Alicia is making at Life Science Cares San Diego. It is inspiring to see how she is building partnerships that strengthen both the nonprofit and life sciences sectors. Congratulations, Alicia.
If you’re an organization striving to make a difference by hiring a team of changemakers, or an individual looking for your next career move in the nonprofit sector, visit us at blairsearchpartners.com and let’s see what we can do together.
We’d love to help you find your next great hire.