black women leaders

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Do I Really Need a Fundraising Coach? (Spoiler: Yes, You Do. And Here’s Why..)

By Spark Point / November 19, 2025

Fundraising isn’t for the faint of heart. You’re balancing donor meetings, grant deadlines, event planning, and everything else that comes with running a nonprofit. Somewhere in the whirlwind, you’ve probably thought: “A fundraising coach sounds nice, but… isn’t this what I’m supposed to already know how to do?” That’s a common (and fair!) thought. But…

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Vanessa Bright Helps Formerly Incarcerated Individuals Successfully Reenter Into Society

By Spark Point / February 12, 2025

Vanessa Bright, MBA, LMSW, is the founder and executive director of Maryland Reentry Resource Center, a nonprofit that provides support services to individuals returning from incarceration. “We are very passionate about our mission. We really want to help our clients. We don’t do things just to check off a box, we actually try to meet…

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Chelsea Brown Knows the Power of Diversifying Philanthropy 

By Spark Point / December 11, 2024

Chelsea Brown is the Founder and Principal Strategist at The Black Mill, a Black woman-owned firm that supports grassroots organizations and minority-led nonprofits, businesses, and individuals in need of strategic nonprofit management. “This is the brainchild of being a little frustrated with philanthropy and the ways that minority-led organizations and grassroots organizations were or were…

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Celebrating 4 Years of the Black Women Spark Change Series: Amplifying Voices, Driving Impact

By Spark Point / December 4, 2024

As we celebrate the fourth anniversary of the Black Women Spark Change series, we reflect on an incredible journey that is shining a spotlight on the transformative work of dozens of Black women leaders from across the country. These remarkable women are making waves in multiple sectors, from education and health care to environmental justice…

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Désirée Nzamba Stays True to Her Mission of Protecting Mother Nature

By Spark Point / November 6, 2024

Désirée Nzamba is a sustainable development advisor at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Vallée-du-Richelieu – Rouville in Quebec, Canada. Désirée has always loved nature. Growing up in Gabon, she fondly remembers visiting natural sights and wildlife parks with her family. She would admire the breathtaking views as they took the train to places like…

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Sierra Morris is a Passionate Educator Creating Learning Experiences for DC Students

By Spark Point / October 23, 2024

Sierra Morris is the Manager of Programming at Live It Learn It, a DC-based nonprofit dedicated to creating experiential learning opportunities for students. “We work with Title I schools, which means that about 90% of the students are having free or reduced lunch,” Sierra says. “We take them to different historical sites, museums, and nature…

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Precious Freeman is Passionate About Making The World Better for the Next Generation

By Spark Point / October 9, 2024

Precious Freeman is the Vice President of National Engagement at Measures for Justice, a nonprofit organization leading the movement to reimagine the criminal justice system by developing data tools that help communities reform the system. “I am obsessed with making things better for the next generation,” Precious shares. Precious was always drawn to community engagement…

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Saran Fossett Encourages Black Girls and LGBTQ+ Youth to Shine

By Spark Point / May 27, 2022

Saran Fossett is the founder and executive director of AZIZA PE&CE (AP), a nonprofit program that uses music, fashion, art, fitness, and entertainment to help girls of color and LGBTQ+ youth build self-esteem and confidence. AP offers in-school, after-school and summer mentorship programming that includes everything from workshops on toxic relationships to museum field trips.…

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Nile Fossett Finds Inspiration From Her Mom as She Succeeds in Her Own Nonprofit Career

By Spark Point / May 26, 2022

Nile Fossett is the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Outreach Specialist with Girls Who Code, an international nonprofit working to close the gender gap in tech. Nile is also studying ICT and Data for Development (the intersection of data science and public policy)  as an MPA-DP candidate at the Columbia University School of International and Public…

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Saran and Nile Fossett are a Mother and Daughter Team Opening Doors for Girls of Color

By Spark Point / May 25, 2022

Saran and Nile Fossett are the mother-daughter team behind AZIZA PE&CE (AP), a nonprofit program that uses art, fitness, music and fashion to support girls of color and LGBTQ+ youth on their journeys of self-actualization. Saran is the founder and executive director of AP while Nile serves as the director of operations.  Love is at…

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