Val Benavidez

Val Benavidez is the Senior Advisor for Foundation Relations at the Movement Voter Project and its 501(c)(3) affiliate, Movement Voter Fund. In this capacity, she supports the team with fundraising efforts focused on institutional giving.

Val has over 25 years of experience in grassroots organizing, policy advocacy, and electoral work. Before MVP, she was the former President and Executive Director for the Texas Freedom Network (TFN), a leading statewide social-justice and movement-building organization. Val assumed the role of TFN President in November 2020, having previously served as chief program officer and in other key roles for over 18 years.

Val possesses a deep passion and unwavering commitment to centering programs around building power and leadership within communities of color, aiming to cultivate a truly representative democracy. During her tenure at the Texas Freedom Network, she proudly founded Texas Rising, the state’s largest youth civic engagement program, and was a co-founder of the Texas Youth Power Alliance.

Before joining the Texas Freedom Network in 2007, Val contributed her expertise to a variety of non-profit advocacy organizations, including Texas Immigrant and Refugee Coalition, League of Young Voters, and the Generational Alliance. She also served as Executive Director of ProTex: Network for a Progressive Texas. Val has dedicated her time to numerous boards, including the Workers Defense Project, and currently serves as a board member for American Gateways.

Val lives in Austin, TX, with her husband and two children. You can find them amidst a sea of endless baking and art projects, community events, and chasing their sometimes escape-artist puppy down the street.