After graduation, she started out in corporate communications at AT&T (known then as Southwestern Bell) as editor of their corporate newspaper, Telephone Times, doing writing, editing and layouts as well as other media duties. She was media spokesperson for the company in Houston for several years and later served as president of the AT&T Foundation (their philanthropic arm in San Antonio), during its time under the SBC name, where she was instrumental in the San Fernando Cathedral project receiving aid from AT&T.

    During this time, Delgado was active in the Conference Board’s prestigious Contributions Council, which provided a forum for the exchange of ideas on philanthropy for foundation and corporate executives. She was later a lobbyist for AT&T in Washington for several years as the executive director of External Affairs and, in the past, also worked for the company in St. Louis and the Rio Grande Valley.

    In 1995, Texas Hispanic Magazine named her one of the “Most Influential Women in Texas,” and in 1997 she was selected to “Leadership Texas,” a leadership development organization for executive women in Texas.
    She notes that what she has learned in the business world can readily be applied to the nonprofit world. “I’ve served on a lot of boards,” Delgado says, “and I recognize the unique part of the community that represents and how the business skills and the business discipline can really be of benefit to the nonprofit world.”

    “I’ve always enjoyed being sort of a bridge between needs in the community and the resources the company could bring,” she says, adding she is excited about bringing her skills to work now for CCF, which she sees as “a real treasure for the Catholic community.”
    She points out the foundation, founded in 2006, has an excellent, experienced board of directors and already has assets of 17 million dollars in financial resources. “It’s here; it’s solid. There’s a lot of confidence in it,” she said.”

    Delgado’s immediate plans involve raising the profile of the CCF. Noting that is is still fairly new, her plans include making the parishes aware that the foundation is not competing with them, but is there to help them. Consolidating income, endowments and assets under one foundation, rather than many separate ones, will offer larger potential and interest income and will be better able to support all involved, she points out.
    Donors can also designate in what area they wish their funds to be used. “I think, “she says, “that having something that’s more closely aligned with their own personal beliefs and their own personal interests will be something that people will gravitate to and want to invest in.”

    Additionally, large benefactors will find the foundation a way to make their giving easier. “From the management perspective,” says Delgado of the CCF, “it’s going to be sort of a one place account where they can direct funds to the different charities that they may already be giving to.”

    In the past, she related, donors did “their fair share” through United Way and workplace giving, with the confidence their contributions would be put to good use. “I think today’s giver wants to be more invested and more engaged in where their money is going and how their money is being used,” she says. “Today’s donor really wants that involvement.”

    Noting there has not been a tool like this in the archdiocese before, she commended Archbishop José Gomez’s foresight and vision “to create something like this that will impact and be able to grow and service the Catholic community.”