“Fundraisers are beacons of light and hope, illuminating the path to the good work needed in the world today.”
Yolanda F. Johnson, Founder and President
With a wealth of experience in the non-profit sector, Yolanda F. Johnson, a leader in fundraising, philanthropy and Inclusion, Equity and Diversity, has developed training methods for boards and leadership groups in effective fundraising strategy and in racial and gender equity, in addition to successfully launching fundraising and marketing initiatives; creating special streams of earned income and special events, including creative strategies for partnerships and sponsorships; securing foundation, corporation and government funding, and cultivating a diverse major gifts portfolio. Her philanthropic work includes counseling philanthropists on where to direct their resources, and through her own YFJ Philanthropies, she personally gives back to causes supporting racial and gender equity, those with disabilities and the arts.
A trailblazing figure on the nonprofit landscape, from 2019 - 2022, Yolanda was the first African American President in the history of Women In Development (WID), NY, one of the NY Metro Area’s premier professional fundraising organizations; she is the founder of Women of Color in Fundraising and Philanthropy (WOC) and the founder of Allies in Action Membership Network, specializing in transformational anti-racism training and programming for the nonprofit sector.
Yolanda is a sought-after keynote speaker, panelist, and moderator for various presenting organizations nationwide and internationally on topics related to DEI, Women’s Philanthropy, Fundraising and Public Speaking. She spearheaded WID’s first Diversity and Inclusion Task Force - a two-year endeavor - which culminated in a final report and accompanying article in The Chronicle of Philanthropy, where she served on a DEI Advisory Committee. She also served on a special DEI committee for the fundraising sector, established by Salesforce. Yolanda also conducts Diversity, Equity and Inclusion from the Inside Out, a special workshop on IED for nonprofit organizations. Her work has been featured in the recent publication, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Advancement: A Guide to Strengthening Engagement and Fundraising Through Inclusion, published through CASE. She serves on the Marketing Committee of Advisors in Philanthropy.
“Fundraising is all about strategy and I take an individualized approach, based upon solid research, integrity and always keeping the end goals in mind.”
Her other leadership roles include serving on the Board of Directors of the Hudson River Museum, Lehman College Art Gallery and PowHer NY. She is also a Special Advisor to the American Composer’s Orchestra and the former United Nations NGO Rep and current International Advisory Board Member for the Foundation for Post Conflict Development.
Yolanda’s career as a successful performing artist and public speaker (www.yolandafjohnson.com) has given her a unique, creative perspective on the communications and presentation aspects of organizational development. With this in mind, she developed All the World's A Stage, a special workshop using performance practice for fundraising, philanthropy, and DEI. She presents All the World’s A Stage to professionals and leadership groups across the country. Yolanda was awarded the 2021 Changemaker Award from the Institute of Nonprofit Practice and is a founding member of the Women's Philanthropy Alliance, a core group of industry experts and thought leaders on Women's Philanthropy.
Leadership and Board Affiliations
Foundation for Post Conflict Development
International Advisory Board Member
PowHerNY
Board of Directors
American Composers Orchestra
Special Advisor
Women's Philanthropy Alliance
Founding Member
The Chronicle of Philanthropy
Advisory Committee
Hudson River Museum
Board of Trustees
Lehman College Art Gallery
Board of Directors
Female Founder Collective
Yolanda is a member of the Female Founder Collective, a female-founded network whose “…mission is to enable and empower female owned and led businesses to positively impact our communities, both socially and economically.”
