Deconstructing Development
Beyond Black and White: Creating More Inclusive Workplaces and Boards
Thursday, February 25, 2021
2:00 p.m.
WID Members: $15 | Non-Members: $20
Co-Hosted By:
Yolanda F. Johnson and Jill Slattery
Featured Guests:
Dee Brecker and Inacent Saunders
Deconstructing Development is a special series, developed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, to bring the fundraising community direct access to experts in areas important to achieving professional success. Each segment includes an introduction, followed by a 30-minute Q & A interview, allowing the WID community to write in with questions for our experts.
It has become more important than ever for nonprofits to look closely at how the organization’s staff and board represent the populations they serve and reflect true inclusivity of their community. In this timely discussion, our panel will explore strategies for opening the door to the range of diversity that exists, and how development professionals can advocate and build support for their organization’s work to embrace inclusion.
Featured Guests
Dee Brecker, Head of Philanthropy, The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). Trustee, CASE Europe Trust; and Chair of Board of Trustees, BlindAid (non-profit supporting adults with visual impairments).
Dee Brecker joined LSE in 2019 as Head of Philanthropy, bringing over 20 years’ communications and fundraising experience across multiple income streams for domestic and international NGOs. In her various roles in non-government organizations and the public sector (local government, Department of Health and the NHS), Dee has focused on raising funds and awareness for wide-ranging causes, including education, health, family careers, disability, the environment and the arts. Born in Lesotho, South Africa, her family and were political refugees and helped to come to the UK by the UNHCR. She has previously held senior positions at the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women and Careers UK, where she was Director of Fundraising and Partnerships, and Director of Fundraising, Engagement and Communications respectively. She has a BSc. from the University of Bristol, an MSc. from University College London (UCL) and professional qualifications in Marketing and Coaching.
Inacent Saunders, Nonprofit Consultant, Groundwork for Change LLC
Inacent Saunders, a native of Brooklyn, NY, has dedicated the last 25 years of her life to the nonprofit sector - serving in direct service and executive leadership roles, and sitting on several boards. In 2017, seeking to have a deeper impact on the sector, Inacent founded Groundwork for Change LLC, a nonprofit consulting practice. Her personal mission is to ensure that organizations have the capacity necessary to launch and scale transformative social impact initiatives. To this end, Inacent specializes in organizational development, program planning, and board development. In 2018, Inacent moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where she now lives and works. In addition to consulting, she also works part time as an Executive Director of a growing statewide organization.
Inacent's devotion to the third sector goes beyond her professional experience. In her personal time, she volunteers as a member of the boards of directors of several nonprofit organizations, including RenewToday, a social justice incubator; the Association of Nonprofit Specialists, a membership organization serving nonprofit consultants; and she is the current Board President of Seeds to Flowers, a girls empowerment organization. These volunteer efforts have not only enriched her life, but they’ve also added to her professional toolkit in areas such as fundraising, program development and nonprofit governance.
In terms of personal interests, Inacent spends much of her free time writing. She published her first work entitled From Pain to Praise: the Prose and Poems of a Daughter in Process, in 2015. In 2020, she co-authored the book A Collective Breath - Stories of Being Black in America and Visions of Change. She is also an ordained Elder, committed to her faith and in assisting others in their faith journeys. Inacent holds a Master’s of Science in Nonprofit Leadership from Fordham University and enjoys meeting and collaborating with other dedicated professionals.
Co-Hosts
Yolanda F. Johnson - President, YFJ Consulting, LLC and President, Women In Development, NY
With more than two decades of experience in the non-profit sector Yolanda F. Johnson has successfully led fundraising operations for a wide range of nonprofit organizations, launching creative event, sponsorship and marketing initiatives that produced new streams of both contributed and earned income. Her fundraising expertise includes securing foundation, corporate, and government funding and cultivating a diverse major gifts portfolio. Yolanda is the President of Women In Development (WID), NY and the President of YFJ Consulting, LLC, which provides fundraising strategy and special event expertise for non-profit community. She is also the founder of Women of Color in Fundraising and Philanthropy (WOC) and Allies in Action Membership Network. Yolanda has had an outstanding career as a performing artist, as a composer, as a producer, as an educator, and she has used her background as a performer to become a sought-after fundraising expert. Yolanda was also recently appointed to the Chronicle of Philanthropy Advisory Committee of national leaders in the non-profit sector. Tying together her life as a successful performing artist and a non-profit leader, she developed All the World's A Stage, a special workshop using performance practice for getting what one wants out of fundraising, philanthropy and life. She presents All the World's A Stage to audiences across the country.
Jill Slattery - Director of Principal Gifts for the Americas, London School of Economics Foundation and Member, Women In Development, NY Board of Directors
With 27 years of experience in higher education fundraising Jill Slattery has contributed to major and principal gift programs at Columbia University, the University of Pennsylvania, and the London School of Economics and Political Science. She is a graduate of Hamilton College and the Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs. In addition to her dedication to the development profession Jill enjoys time spent with family, friends, and travel.
Women In Development, New York (WID) accepts refund requests made in writing at least five (5) business days prior to the event. Registration fees are not refundable after this date. Nonrefundable ticket purchases may not be used as credits towards future WID events.
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