Leadership
Benjamin Vega
Executive Director
Benjamin Vega is a capital strategist and investment ecosystem architect with more than 15 years of experience spanning institutional fundraising, alternative investments, and nonprofit development. He has led capital formation initiatives, investor relations programs, and strategic fundraising campaigns across a wide range of private fund strategies and mission-aligned ventures. His work includes connecting institutional allocators with opportunities in private equity, credit, venture capital, real assets, emerging managers, impact strategies, and diversified investment vehicles.
An Arizona native and Phoenix Country Day School alumnus, Ben earned his degree from Marymount Manhattan College in New York City before returning to Arizona to join a real estate investment firm, where he focused on institutional outreach and investor engagement.
Ben has also held senior leadership roles in the nonprofit sector, including serving as Vice President and Chairman of the Active Scottsdale 20/30 Foundation and as Senior Development Officer at Phoenix Children’s Foundation. In these positions, he led multimillion-dollar fundraising campaigns and advisory boards supporting transformative pediatric healthcare initiatives.
As Executive Director of the Arizona Fund Managers Association (AFMA), Ben spearheads initiatives to strengthen and unify Arizona’s investment management community. He oversees AFMA’s signature programs, most notably the LIFT AZ Summit, and cultivates relationships with institutional investors, regulatory partners, and policymakers. Under his leadership, AFMA advances advocacy for a business-friendly regulatory environment, elevates Arizona’s visibility within national capital markets, and builds platforms that connect fund managers across private equity, venture capital, credit, hedge funds, real assets, and registered investment products.
Ben also serves on the Advisory Board of Grand Canyon University’s Colangelo College of Business, supporting academic–industry collaboration and advancing the next generation of business and finance leaders.
Dedicated to positioning Arizona as a premier hub for capital formation, Ben works to accelerate the growth of the state’s investment ecosystem and expand its influence within national and global markets.