ABOUT US
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
MANAGEMENT TEAM
Chris Fritzen
Development Director
Chris Fritzen has served as Senior Development Officer for AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA) since April 1999. APLA is the second largest provider of AIDS services in the country and has an annual budget of $19.0 million of which $12.3 million (65%) comes from private revenue (including events) and the remaining from government grants. Chris’s responsibilities focused exclusively on private donations and included the development, management and nurturing of major gift donors (APLA Leadership Council), corporations and professional foundations, direct marketing campaigns, estate and planned giving, telemarketing, on-line philanthropy and various special event fundraisers in the community. He worked closely with the Board of Directors and Ambassador Council to ensure that over 6,700 Angelinos living with HIV/AIDS could access vital services. Chris was instrumental in creating and growing APLA’s annual Oscar party, The Envelope Please, now hosted by Esquire magazine, The Abbey and Jennifer Love Hewitt. This viewing and dinner party now is one of the premier Oscar-related events in Los Angeles.
At the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF), Chris served as Senior Development Officer for Individual Giving. EGPAF creates a future of hope for children and families worldwide by eradicating pediatric AIDS, providing care and treatment to people with HIV/AIDS, and accelerating the discovery of new treatments for other serious and life-threatening pediatric illnesses. Chris created and launched their annual giving program, Ariel’s Circle, and worked in conjunction with the Vice President of Development to procure major and mega gifts from nationally recognized companies such as Target, Coca Cola, Kodak Inc., SBC Communications, Tenet Healthcare and various pharmaceutical companies. Chris also assisted the Vice President of Events in the coordination of two marquee events — “Kids for Kids” (New York) and “A Time for Heroes” (Los Angeles)
Prior to his commitment to HIV philanthropy, Chris had a distinguished sales career at Pfizer, Inc., the world’s largest pharmaceutical company. He was responsible for the marketing of a six product portfolio which exceeded $10.0 million, coordinated research efforts for the infectious disease product cycle and acted as the west coast liaison to the global research headquarters in New York City. Chris was honored by being nationally recognized for his performance. Chris moved from a science/marketing focus to philanthropic fundraising because he wanted to have a more direct impact on the LGBT community and people living with HIV.
Chris is a Southern California native raised in Huntington Beach. He attended the University of South Dakota on a swimming scholarship, graduating magna cum laude as a NCAA Academic All-American, with majors in Molecular Biology and Psychology. He attended UCLA to study biochemistry which led him into a career with the pharmaceutical industry. He has completed three marathons to raise money for people living with HIV/AIDS. Chris continues to be an active member of the LGBT community supporting such organizations as The Trevor Project, HRC and Access Now Gay and Lesbian Equality (ANGLE). Chris currently resides in West Hollywood and will be based in the Los Angeles office of the Point Foundation.