Bellevue Schools Foundation today announced that Gil Picciotto has been named its new Executive Director, effective September 8, 2026. Gil Picciotto brings more than 30 years of experience in nonprofit and foundation leadership, including senior roles at independent schools and major university foundations.

Gil’s connection to Bellevue's public schools is personal as well as professional: his oldest son is a Bellevue School District graduate now attending Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and his youngest son is a sophomore at Newport High School.

Gil joins Bellevue Schools Foundation from Eastside Catholic School, where he has served as President since 2018. As the school's primary liaison to its Board of Trustees and major donors, Gil secured the three highest Annual Fund years in school history and led the efforts to complete the school's first fully donor-funded capital project.

Prior to Eastside Catholic, Gil spent more than a decade at Washington State University, where he served twice as Interim CEO of the WSU Foundation and, before that, as Executive Associate Vice President. He played a central role in leading WSU's $1 billion comprehensive campaign, cultivating and soliciting major gifts and managing a high performing Development team. Earlier in his career Gil held development roles at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and Child Abuse Listening and Mediation (CALM).

“Bellevue Schools Foundation is thrilled to introduce Gil Picciotto as our new Executive Director!” said Susan Ishii-Yin, President of BSF Board, “Fundraising is Gil’s superpower and that along with his strong connection to the Bellevue community and first-hand experience as a BSD parent will help guide our work in meaningful ways. We’re eager to start this new chapter together with Gil as the leader of the Bellevue Schools Foundation team.”

“I’m honored to join Bellevue Schools Foundation and to help expand the opportunities available to every student in our district,” said Picciotto. “Public education is the foundation of a thriving community, and I look forward to working alongside the Foundation’s staff, donors, and school partners to strengthen that foundation for years to come.”

Picciotto holds a B.A. in Law and Society from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a Master of Science in Management and Leadership from Western Governors University.

Bellevue Schools Foundation will welcome Picciotto to the role on September 8, 2026. He can be reached at gil@bsfdn.org.