Meet Jonah. This Renaissance man has a resume that is just as unique as it is impressive. He’s a classically trained singer🎶, a baker who was a semi-finalist on Season 1 of NBC’s Baking It 🍰 and an accomplished fundraising leader who is the senior vice president of Development and Alumni Engagement at The New School. On top of all that, he co-founded The Forum for BIPOC Fundraising Professionals. On today's podcast, Jonah shares insights on the toll of code-switching for fundraisers of color and the health impacts of racism in our sector, emphasizing how equity is a choice, inclusion is an action, and belonging is the result. This episode is essential listening for leaders at any career stage.

Meet Dena. She’s a staunch advocate for more diversity, equity and inclusion in all aspects of our lives. Her advocacy work began at just 16 years old when she was a volunteer for a Black and Brown LGBTQ youth HIV outreach program in the inner cities of Connecticut. From leading employee resource groups in both corporate and nonprofit settings to making history as the first Black CEO and board chair of the Trans Chorus of Los Angeles, she has consistently broken barriers. Today, Dena continues to shape the DEIA landscape through her impactful consultancy work. Tune in, and uncover ways to create inclusive communities where everyone can express their truth. 

Join this panel of modern impact thinkers as we explore going further with our diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. We’ll be challenging current practices, discussing the harm that’s still projected in our missions, how to value all people (not just your big donors!), building cultures of belonging, and understanding how to go beyond basic education and check-the-box diversity trainings. Everyone has a role to play in this conversation.

Meet Darren. He’s an advocate for amplifying diverse voices and narratives within our sector. As a partner at The Bridgespan Group, he advises mission-driven organizations and philanthropic foundations. He’s also the host of the podcast Dreaming in Color: Creating New Narratives in Leadership, which offers leaders of color space to share how they have leveraged their unique assets and abilities to embrace excellence, drive impact, and more fully define what success looks like. He’s sharing how diversity is a critical asset to organizations and the potential impact endowments can have on long-term sustainability and growth for nonprofits. Don’t miss this conversation as we dive into the role we all play in creating more meaningful narratives in philanthropy. 

Meet Cindy. She’s a member of the We Are For Good Community, former Deputy Attorney General for the California Attorney General and nonprofit founder. Her passion for equal access to legal education led her to found LEAP, an organization dedicated to providing opportunities for underrepresented groups in the law field. Partnerships and community play a pivotal role in sustaining LEAP's mission, and she’s sharing her insights into the dynamic relationships the organization cultivated with law schools, law firms + funders. Tune in for this founder’s story as we dive into breaking barriers and creating pathways🙌

Meet Karon. She believes philanthropy can be a trusted partner in advancing the greater good. And her team at the Council on Foundations is centered on doing just that by fostering heathy work environments, developing diverse people and advocating for progress. By bringing people together around these topics, her org is bridging divides and creating opportunities for people to listen, share and do the work. And her One Good Thing will move your heart.

Meet Yolanda F. Johnson. She's building communities where everyone has a place. The Manhattan-based entrepreneur, fundraiser and author advocates for voices who need to be heard.