As CEO of the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank, Casey Castillo oversees a $113.6 million organization with more than $100 million in net assets, directing 90% of expenses to program services. In 2025, the Food Bank distributed 52 million pounds of food and supplies — equivalent to more than 43 million meals — including the highest volume of fresh produce in its history.
Castillo led an expansion of food distribution in North County, from 550,000 pounds in 2015 to 9.2 million pounds in 2025. In January of this year, the Food Bank opened a permanent Vista facility to sustain and further accelerate that growth.
The Food Bank’s stellar performance under Castillo’s charge in bringing more food security to the region has made him the San Diego Business Journal’s 2026 CEO of the Year in the Nonprofit Organization category.
Nearly 2 Decades of Dedication
Castillo assumed the role of Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank CEO in 2022, but has been an integral part of the organization’s leadership team for nearly two decades.
Throughout his 18-year tenure, Castillo has driven major strategic and operational transformations to expand the Food Bank’s capacity and impact. He oversaw multimillion dollar infrastructure investments, including a 90,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art warehouse; expanded refrigeration systems; and helped establish a 9,000-square-foot volunteer center which helps the organization sustain service to more than 400,000 people each month.
Under his leadership, the Food Bank has navigated some of the region’s most significant crises — including the COVID 19 pandemic, when monthly service skyrocketed from 350,000 to 600,000 people, and multiple federal government shutdowns requiring rapid emergency food distributions for thousands of families.
Castillo has also led efforts that strengthened partnerships with more than 450 nonprofit partners and school-based distributions across San Diego County, ensuring food assistance reaches neighborhoods where need is greatest.
Steward of Sustainability, Community
Castillo also champions initiatives that have positioned the Food Bank as a national model for environmentally responsible operations. He spearheaded development of the 3,400 square foot recycling and composting center and led an energy audit that resulted in installing 1,400 solar panels — achieving energy independence and earning LEED v4 Gold Certification and the EPA’s Energy Star Award. He also led the adoption of SDG&E donated phase change material technology, which stabilizes freezer temperatures overnight and reduces power consumption.
He further expanded the Food Bank’s environmental impact through the Fresh Rescue Program, which diverts millions of pounds of nearly expired food from landfills to families in need.
Castillo’s community involvement extends beyond operational leadership into philanthropy, partnership and public trust. He plays an active role in cultivating the donor, corporate and foundation relationships that sustain the organization’s work. In FY2025, the Food Bank generated $21.4 million in private contributions and nearly $51 million in in-kind donated food. Castillo is directly engaged in stewarding those investments by meeting with donors, reinforcing transparency and strengthening long-term partnerships.
Under his guidance, the organization expanded its advocacy capacity, establishing a dedicated government affairs team and launching a digital grassroots platform to better align community engagement with policy progress. Castillo’s approach to philanthropy is personal as well as professional; he models generosity, accountability and stewardship in the way he leads and engages the community.
Castillo is an active civic and nonprofit leader whose board service reflects his commitment to strengthening San Diego’s health, economic and social infrastructure. He currently serves on the boards of Sharp Memorial Hospital, the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and the California Association of Food Banks.
Photo courtesy Bob Hoffman Photography & Video