Systemic racism continues to impede progress for people of color in every profession, including fundraising.  How can leaders effect real, lasting change in their organizations?  And how can we all help?  In this panel discussion, Aisha Francis, Ph.D., CEO of Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology and a former development professional, Melany Duval, Senior Vice President and Chief Philanthropy Officer at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute; and Ildemaro Gonzalez, Vice President and Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, will share how they are making their organizations more equitable.  From recruitment strategies to retention and advancement, how can we ensure that people of color feel seen, valued, respected, and represented at all levels, including and especially in leadership roles?  Our expert panelists will share what they’re doing and what they’ve learned along the way.

Anticipated takeaways:

• How can development professionals at all levels advance equity, inclusion and diversity within their organizations and within the profession at large?
• How are leaders within the profession approaching these challenges within their organizations?
• How can development professionals partner with others within their organizations (e.g. chief inclusion and diversity officers) to advance these objectives?
• What resources are available to support or sustain people of color within the development profession?

MODERATOR: Zena Lum, Executive Director, Boston Latin Academy Association

PANELISTS:
Melany Duval, Senior Vice President and Chief Philanthropy Officer, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Aisha Francis, Ph.D., CEO, Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology
Ildemaro Gonzalez, Vice President and Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

 Zena Lum, Executive Director, Boston Latin Academy Association

 Zena Lum serves as the Executive Director of Boston Latin Academy Association, the independent non-profit organization raising support for Boston Latin Academy (BLA). Additionally, she is retained as a Senior Director for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Lindauer Global, an executive search firm focused on the social impact sector.

With more than 25 years dedicated to mission-driven organizations, Ms. Lum has directly raised tens of millions of dollars for leading organizations in Boston such as WGBH, Jumpstart for Young Children, New England Aquarium, and Boston Public Schools. Since joining Lindauer more than 9 years ago, she has placed development leaders across the country and across the sector that collectively have raised hundreds of millions more to advance education, the arts, health care, and social and environmental justice.

Ms. Lum is parent to a BLA sophomore, residing in the South End with her family. She is an active member of her community, volunteering with United South End Settlements, YW Boston, ARCK, and Artisan’s Asylum. She also serves on an Exam School Admissions Task Force with Boston Public Schools School Committee. Ms. Lum holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Georgetown University and is a member of LeadBoston class of 2011.

Melany Duval,  Senior Vice President, Chief Philanthropy Officer, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Melany Duval is the Senior Vice President and Chief Philanthropy Officer at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund. In this role, she has responsibility for all philanthropic initiatives for Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund.  She leads the Division of Philanthropy and is a member of the Executive Leadership Team at Dana-Farber.

Melany is a seasoned development executive with over 25 years of extensive experience in fundraising, building teams and managing campaign planning and strategy. Prior to joining Dana-Farber in 2019, she was Vice President of Development at Silicon Valley Community Foundation (SVCF), where she led the team that was responsible for philanthropic activities and fundraising for SVCF. The largest community foundation in the world, SVCF raised more than $1.9 billion in 2018 and 2019 granted over $1.4 billion to organizations in the US and around the world. Prior to joining SVCF, Melany was the Senior Associate Dean and Associate Vice President of Health Science Campus Development at the University of Southern California (USC) and provided leadership for the campaign to raise $1.5 billion for the USC Health Sciences Campus—the largest component of USC’s $6 billion fundraising campaign. She also held leadership positions at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles and the Saban Research Institute, where she helped successfully complete a $1 billion fundraising campaign — the largest in the institution’s history. Melany began her career at LMU and worked in roles of increasing responsibility ultimately serving as the Associate Vice President and Campaign Director.

Melany earned her bachelor’s degree in political science and business administration from Loyola Marymount University. She is a member of AAMC, AFP, and AHP and previously served as a member of the board of the Woodmark Group and the Jesuit Advancement Administrators.

 Aisha Francis, Ph.D., CEO, Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology

As Chief Executive Officer at Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology (BFIT), Aisha Francis, Ph.D., oversees the day-to-day operations of the college and plays a critical role in advancing its mission.

Dr. Francis is an award-winning nonprofit leader and educator with broad experience in strategic planning, philanthropy, board relations, marketing, and communications. She believes in the ability of effective organizations and well-supported individuals to transform underserved communities for the better, which is her life’s work. She enjoys serving as a strategist and implementing dynamic new programs at best-in-class organizations that improve access to and equity of educational and economic opportunities.

 In her previous role as BFIT’s Chief of Staff, Dr. Francis built the college’s network of supporters through external and government relations and oversaw selected aspects of administrative operations. Prior to joining BFIT, she served as the Managing Director of Development for Harvard Medical School, raising funds to support medical student scholarships as well as diversity and inclusion programs. She previously spearheaded marketing and fundraising for Economic Mobility Pathways and held leadership positions at the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation and Boston Medical Center.

Her background is in academia and she began her career as a college educator of English Literature and Women’s Studies. Dr. Francis has published original scholarship in these areas of study and pens opinion pieces and offers commentary on matters relevant to higher education.

Recognized by the Boston Business Journal as a 40 Under 40 leader to watch, Dr. Francis contributes to the civic health of Boston through volunteer work and advocacy. In 2020, Dr. Francis was appointed to the City of Boston’s Employment Commission, which oversees the Boston Residents Job Policy.

Dr. Francis resides in Hyde Park with her husband and two young children. Originally from Nashville, TN, she completed her undergraduate education at Fisk University, then earned a masters and doctorate in English Literature from Vanderbilt University.

Ildemaro Gonzalez, Vice President and Chief Inclusion & Diversity Officer, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Ildemaro Gonzalez joined Dana-Farber in 2019. He is a diversity and inclusion (D&I) leader with a successful 20-year track record designing and implementing innovative D&I strategies. In a domestic and global context, he works to align D&I with the strategic priorities of the organization and impact all aspects of the operation, including both employee and patient experiences.

Mr. Gonzalez has served as Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer at Parkland Health and Hospital System; Global Director of Inclusion and Philanthropy at Newell Rubbermaid; and Managing Director, Diversity Strategy at the American Cancer Society-National Home Office. He galvanized executives and board members around a common vision; leveraged partnerships with operational leaders for long term adoption of new D&I initiatives; and engaged employees in driving diversity, inclusion, and engagement outcomes.

He earned an MBA from Georgia State University, and a BBA from the Universidad Catolica Andres Bello, in Caracas, Venezuela.

Thursday, June 3, 2021
3:00am-4:30pm, (Virtual Zoom Program)

3:00-3:30PM - Networking
3:30-4:30PM - Panel Discussion

Audience/Target Market: All Development Professionals

 $35 for non-members and members who register late, after Friday, 5/28/21)
Registration for this program will close on 6/1/21.
No refunds within 7 days of program

REGISTER