Camila Pereira

Camila was born and raised in Brazil. Coming from a very mixed family including Black, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and Native Indian, she understood from a very young age that race relations, identity and gender roles were central not only to her family but to herself and that skin color in Brazil dictates your role, future and existence within society. 

Her parents have always strongly believed that education is the means for change and transformation. Education is the greatest asset of an individual; “the only thing that no one can take away from anyone”.

Inspired by her parents Camila focused on excelling her education as a way of paving new possibilities for black girls like her. She holds a PhD in Public Policy/Public Administration & International Relations and a MA in Educational Policy & Administration both from Howard University (USA), and a BA in Education from University of Sao Paulo (Brazil). 

Camila is passionate about urban issues, social inequality and inclusion & diversity. She focuses her career on contributing towards the eradication of all forms of prejudice which prevents the advancement and betterment of human kind. She has been involved in philanthropy since her childhood and has been working in the nonprofit sector in Toronto for over 4.5 years. Currently she is a Senior Development Officer at the Child Development Institute, an accredited children’s mental health agency in Toronto. 

Alongside her career, Camila has been a part of the Canadian Black Fundraisers group in Toronto for the past couple of years. She is very involved with the Brazilian community and has been serving on the Board of Directors of Ciranda Brasileira, a community association in Toronto for the past 4 years. She is a language coach to Brazilians involved in philanthropy and fundraising in Brazil and Canada. 

Last but not least, Camila loves connecting with her family and nieces – Beatriz and Alice, who are in Brazil, spending time with her husband - Adrian and cat – Lila, and travelling. 

Christal M. Cherry

Christal M. Cherry is a nationally recognized fundraiser who has spent 20 years working with nonprofits and higher education institutions. With passion and a wide breadth of experience, Christal works today with nonprofits to help them create effective and successful boards. As the Board Pro, Christal offers one-on-one board coaching, governance and fundraising training at board meetings and retreats. Board clients have included United Way of Bartow County, the Rutledge Center, Girls Going Global, Tapestri Inc, and Children of Conservation. 

In the past Christal worked with many national organizations, among them the United Negro College Fund, multiple higher education institutions, two seminaries, and several human services nonprofits. She has succeeded in advancing nonprofits by employing passionate storytelling, smart development plans, impactful campaigns, and by building sustainable relationships with major donors. 

Christal currently serves on the board of The Villages at Carver YMCA and is an active member of AADO (African American Development Officers Network). In 2020, she will resume her board service as a board member of the Greater Atlanta chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals where she served as a board member from 2008-2010. 

Christal started her career in counseling and direct service. In her free time, she loves reading, theater, and outdoor concerts. Christal is also a member of Toastmasters, a parent leader in the Cub Scouts, and an active member of her church. Grateful for amazing family and friends, Christal is always excited to pursue new opportunities for service and living with purpose. 

Naimah Bilal

Naimah Bilal is a Washington DC native, nonprofit leader, and fundraising executive.  Drawing inspiration from her prior career as an orchestral violinist and symphonic programming executive, Naimah has spearheaded wide-ranging fund and artistic development efforts for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, the Cincinnati Waldorf School, and the University of Cincinnati where she currently serves as Director of Foundation Board Relations. Driven by a desire to elevate the experiences and narratives of black and brown leaders, Naimah launched "Bawse With A Cause", the first podcast devoted exclusively to profiling the stories, perspectives, and insights of black and brown executives in the wider nonprofit sector. She is a student at the UC Lindnder College of Business MBA program with a primary focus on corporate finance. 

Nicole Salmon

Nicole is anchored by family and a deep appreciation of strong personal relationships. She embraces her natural curiosity, a thirst for variety and new challenges. With over 25 years working in the non-profit sector, she has held senior fundraising positions in various INGOs. In 2014 Nicole founded Boundless Philanthropy, a fundraising consultancy specializing in providing transitional leadership support, fund development strategizing, planning and execution. Currently, she is working with Peel Leadership Centre as Manager, Organizational Development, helping to build strong leadership and organizational capacity within Peel Region in Ontario, Canada.

Nneka Allen

Nneka Allen is a Black woman, a descendant of the Underground Railroad, an Ojibwa of Anderson Nation, a Mother and a sixth generation Canadian.

Born in the 70’s, Nneka was raised during a time of Black power and acute political awareness in North America. As a result, the air in her childhood home was generous, brilliant and proud. Her parents and their siblings with great intentionality poured their consciousness into her multi-ethnic identity. 

As a lover of justice, Nneka inspires philanthropy as a Fundraising Executive in the non-profit sector. She honours the spirit of generosity in all people and is passionate about the many contributions of Black Canadian philanthropists and fundraisers.

Nneka is also the principal and founder of The Empathy Agency. She helps organizations deliver more fairly on their mission and vision by coaching leaders and their teams to explore the impact identity has on organizational culture and equity goals.

Nneka’s ultimate joy is her daughter Destiny, an Environmental Scientist working with Indigenous communities in British Columbia. Together Destiny and Nneka continue their family legacy of philanthropy and activism in Canada.

Nneka Allen, CFRE

Shanice Branch

Shanice is a native New Yorker who enjoys movies and walking the skyline. She obtained her Bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University in Business Management and Marketing and her Masters of Public Administration from Baruch College. Shanice has been working in the nonprofit sector for over 7 years at organizations like the YMCA, Boys and Girls Clubs, Urban Pathways, Little Flower Children and Family Services and most recently Jeremiah Program. Shanice has served in Development roles in various capacities such Special Events Manager, Volunteer Engagement Coordinator and Development and Communications Manager.

Currently Shanice works as the Development Manager for the Jeremiah Program New York.  Jeremiah Program New York addresses a career-track education for moms, quality early childhood education for their children, connections to resources to secure safe affordable housing, training, and support services all in one. Shanice truly enjoys giving back and helping others, she is the Events Director for the Rutgers Alumni Club of NYC and the Childhood Hunger Co- Chair for her sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated. She has traveled abroad gaining valuable experience in overseas business and the importance of evolving with the times. Shanice is a believer in leaving a memorable impact on the lives of others in everything she does.   

Toni S. Paz

Toni S. Paz, CFRE, Director of Development

Communities in Schools of Atlanta

Toni has spent over 25 years in the nonprofit industry as an agent of influence and change, engaging donors as a fundraising professional. As a veteran in the profession, her purpose is to build relationships with donors, foundations, businesses and volunteers to deepen their engagement with and commitment to an organization and its mission.

Toni started her career in philanthropy in Baltimore at Center Stage theater and at the Baltimore Symphony. In 2006, she began her tenure at the Woodruff Arts Center as Director of Individual Support for the Atlanta Symphony. After a 5-year intermission as Vice President of Marketing and Development for the Jacksonville Symphony (Florida), she returned to the Atlanta Symphony as Director of Development before being named Director, Corporate Philanthropy for the Woodruff Arts Center. Her most recent position with Reach Out and Read Georgia, an early literacy organization, expanded her fundraising experience state-wide in Georgia, particularly in the area of foundation philanthropy. Toni also serves as a facilitator at the Georgia Center for Nonprofit’s Nonprofit University for courses in major giving offered twice a year.

Toni is currently pursuing the Advanced Certified Fund Raising Executive credential and has maintained the Certified Fund Raising Executive credential since 2005. She is a trustee of the Kiwanis Foundation of Atlanta and board member of the Metro Atlanta Chapter of the Association of Fundraising and as co-chairs the AFP Diversity Fellows Program. Toni volunteers for the National Instrumentalist Mentoring and Advancement Network, a national association of organizations committed to furthering equity and opportunities for aspiring classical musicians from underrepresented ethnicities, and volunteered as a Court Appointed Special Advocate/Guardian ad Litem from 2008 - 2016.

Yolanda F. Johnson

President, YFJ Consulting, LLC

Founder, Women of Color in Fundraising and Philanthropy (WOC)

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 non-profit 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.

In addition to leading YFJ Consulting, LLC, Yolanda is the President of Women In Development (WID), NY, the NYC area’s premier professional organization for women in fundraising and philanthropy. In order to continue a strategic focus on her work with women of color, in 2020, she launched Women of Color in Fundraising and Philanthropy (WOC). Yolanda has also 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. 

Her leadership roles include serving as an International Advisory Board member and the former Representative for the Foundation for Post Conflict Development to the United Nations, and as a member of the board of directors of the Lehman College Art Gallery. A trailblazing figure on the national fundraising landscape, Yolanda is the first African American President in the 40-year history of WID. She co-established the WID Diversity and Inclusion Task Force and is often a featured expert on incorporating DEI initiatives into organizational culture. She has appeared as a panelist at Fundraising Day in New York, the Women’s Alliance National Conference and CASE events among others. 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. Yolanda is a member of Sigma Alpha Iota International Women’s Music Fraternity and is on the artist roster for Random Access Music/Queens New Music Festival and the newly formed Westchester Chamber Soloists Orchestra.

Kishshana Palmer

Kishshana Palmer is a national speaker, trainer, and coach with a 17 year background in fundraising, marketing, and talent management.  She’s a supernova on any stage and platforms due to her charismatic and candid delivery. It doesn’t matter if she’s speaking about philanthropy, living your most authentic life, or diversity, the energy she brings to the stage is always entertaining and edifying.

Kishshana is founder of The Rooted Collaborative -- a global online community for Women of Color in Fundraising. She's the author of "Hey, I'm New Here", the host of the podcast Take It Offline, an adjunct professor at Baruch College, a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE), a BoardSource Certified Governance Trainer (CGT) and an AFP Master Trainer.  When an organization wants to grow, find and retain people on their team, raise money, and more she is the philanthropic fairy godmother they have on speed dial. Her work isn’t limited to organizations, she also coaches social good professionals.

Kishshana is a NYC girl and mother of one wonderful teenage daughter. Kishshana is the epitome of your classic 90's Queens homegirl and quintessential corner office executive. She is your daily dose of Claire Huxtable with a side of Blanche Devereaux.

BIRGIT SMITH BURTON

Executive Director of Foundation Relations
Georgia Institute of Technology

Birgit Smith Burton is a respected leader in the fundraising profession having raised more than $500M during her 30-year career. As the executive director of foundation relations at Georgia Tech, she led her team in raising $309M toward the institute's most recent successful $1.8B capital campaign.

Birgit is a well-regarded speaker on the topics of fundraising and diversity. She has authored articles on diversity in the fundraising profession, co-authored the book, The Philanthropic Covenant with Black America and contributed to the book Five Minutes for Fundraising, A Collection of Expert Advice.  She was proud to be selected by Georgia Tech leadership to participate in the first cohort of Leading Women @ Tech, which identified the next community of leaders who will guide the Institution in the 21st century.

Birgit serves on the global board of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and is Vice Chair for Membership.  She chairs the A.E. Lowe Grice Scholarship Fund, Hosea Helps board of directors and is an advisor for the Aspen Leadership Group. Birgit founded AADO, the African American Development Officers Network, which for 22 years has provided professional development, education, employment support, mentorship, and networking opportunities for fundraisers of color.  She is a member of Alpha Kappa Sorority.

Birgit earned a bachelor's degree in media communications from Medaille College in Buffalo, New York.

Heba Mahmoud

Heba Mahmoud is a mission-driven professional, committed to creating an inclusive, diverse, equitable, and accessible professional sector that welcomes and engages diverse communities.  She has spent the last thirteen years working with membership associations.  

Heba serves as the senior manager of diversity initiatives at the Consumer Technology Association, where she is responsible for building and implementing programs and initiatives to ensure a diverse and inclusive tech ecosystem.  Previously, Heba worked at the Association of Fundraising Professionals where she took the lead in launching the Women’s Impact Initiative, a program committed to creating an impact on the daily lives of fundraisers by breaking down workplace barriers.

Heba holds a Bachelor’s of International Business and Marketing from Howard University and her Master’s of Business Management from Strayer University.    Heba is also a scholar in the 2018-2020 class of the American Society of Association Executives’ Diversity Executive Leadership Program.  She is passionate about youth engagement and development, and actively volunteers with a number of D.C. area groups.