It’s clear there is an emerging and growing resistance and backlash against the pursuit of equity and racial justice within the charitable sector. As voices of dissent amplify, there are vested defenders who not only deny and refuse to acknowledge the colonial roots and its embedded ‘whiteness’ standard, but who are intent on holding the line on the status quo designed to preserve how things have always been done.
Black folx, and those with marginalized ‘othered’ identities, have been excluded from full contribution and participation in the sector unless they conform and contort themselves in ways to fit it. And even when they do, their identities are asterisked to indicate conditional acceptance.
A Brave Space for Black Fundraisers’ Virtual Conference offers an environment:
Who should Attend?
Black fundraisers seeking an affirming environment that celebrates all of you - where your voice and identities can fill the space and where centering and contributing your lived-experience is valued currency.
Join us if you'd like to:
We will walk the talk together, we will engage and move together, and we will bring fun to the space too!
Day 2 of A Brave Space conference feels like the right time and place for Black fundraisers to delve into topics that are important to us and our community.
Our careers in the fundraising space are a thorny subject as many of us have experienced ups and downs in trying to find roles that are aligned with our personal values.
We’ve also been harmed by white supervisors and peers, but also by our Black colleagues, many of whom are also struggling to find their place in toxic work environments.
We know that Black people are benevolent and concerned about the future of our loved ones and communities. We often don’t have the knowledge or resources to know how we can leave a far-reaching legacy for those coming behind us.
Yes, this is the time. This is the place for knowledge and affirmation to anchor us in our development careers. This day will be a day of reflection, grace, and resource sharing. We will empower one another to lean in, make smart decisions, and navigate the workplace in fundraising. This is our path to action and the start of our journey towards finding joy and reward in our lives and careers.
Topics:
Christal M. Cherry, The Board Pro, worked 23 years as a nonprofit fundraiser serving higher education institutions, seminaries, and human service organizations. Now as a board consultant for nonprofits, she equips and empowers boards to support their missions and change the world. Her services as Principal and CEO of the Board Pro, include recruitment, governance, fundraising, conflict resolution and diversity, equity, inclusion, access and belonging.
Christal has enjoyed training and speaking engagements with Candid, Bloomerang, Network for Good, QGiv, Keela, Out in the Boons and Nonprofit Hub. She has also been a guest on several podcasts including We Are for Good, Nonprofit Nation, Nonprofit Lowdown, Nonprofit Coffee Talk, Nonprofit Vision, Nonprofit Jenni, Mission Impact, The Nonprofit Mastermind and Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership.
Christal earned an MA in Counseling from Hampton University, a BA in Liberal Arts from Hofstra University and professional development certifications in nonprofit leadership, social media fundraising, and nonprofit management. She recently earned certification as a Quadrant 3 Leadership Coach and as a Nonprofit Board Consultant with Board Source.
She is a contributing author to Collecting Courage, a collection of first-person narratives from Black fundraisers documenting their experiences with racism in the nonprofit sector. In 2021, Christal authored her first children’s book, Mac and Cheez, Being Different is Okay which is available on Amazon.