Exploring Racial Justice in Philanthropy with Dr. Helene Gayle, President & CEO, The Chicago Community Trust

The Black Fundraisers' Podcast was founded in 2021 by Kia Croom, a 20-year nonprofit fundraiser/fund development professional and DEI champion. Learn more about Kia Croom at www.kiacroom.com. Email the Black Fundraisers' Podcast at Blackfundraiserspodcast@gmail.com for show ideas, inquiries, advertising and more. Subscribe to the Black Fundraisers' Podcast wherever podcasts are available Connect with us on IG & Youtube @Blackfundraiserspodcast ABOUT THIS EPISODE'S GUEST Helene D. Gayle, MD, MPH, has been president and CEO of The Chicago Community Trust, one of the nation’s oldest and largest community foundations, since October 2017. Under her leadership, the Trust has adopted a new strategic focus on closing the racial and ethnic wealth gap in the Chicago region. For almost a decade, Dr. Gayle was president and CEO of CARE, a leading international humanitarian organization. An expert on global development, humanitarian, and health issues, she spent 20 years with the Centers for Disease Control, working primarily on HIV/AIDS. She worked at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, directing programs on HIV/AIDS and other global health issues. Dr. Gayle serves on public company and nonprofit boards, including The Coca-Cola Company, Organon, Palo Alto Networks, Brookings Institution, Center for Strategic and International Studies, New America, ONE Campaign, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, and Economic Club of Chicago. She is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Council on Foreign Relations, American Public Health Association, National Academy of Medicine, National Medical Association, and American Academy of Pediatrics. She was awarded the Chicago Mayor’s Medal of Honor for her work on COVID relief and recovery for the city. Named one of Forbes’ “100 Most Powerful Women” and one of NonProfit Times’ “Power and Influence Top 50,” she has authored numerous articles on global and domestic public health issues, poverty alleviation, gender equality, and social justice. This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

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Research indicates Black fundraisers bring incredible intrinsic motivation, passion and lived experience to their work, yet they are not experiencing inclusion within their organizations. Instead, they’re confronted by white supremacy, anti-Blackness and experience workplace racial trauma as a result. Tune in as we shed light on the challenges Black fundraisers contend with, and how they find the motivation to carry on in spite of them. Learn with us, as we explore next-in-class strategies for fund development, fundraising, diversity, equity and inclusion. Celebrate with us as we pay homage to Black culture. Lastly, join our network of fundraisers of color and allies as we elevate Black voices and push for a more equitable and inclusive sector. The Black Fundraisers’ Podcast was founded by Kia Croom, a 22-year fundraising maven who has raised nearly half a billion dollars in a variety of cause areas including but not limited to STEM, anti-poverty initiatives, education, health, HIV/AIDS, advocacy, children & youth, workplace development, re-entry and more. The Black Fundraisers’ Podcast is produced by Kia Croom Fundraising & Philanthropy, a full-scale, Black-woman-owned fundraising firm that works exclusively with organizations fighting the byproducts of structural racism (e.g. poverty, mass incarceration, education inequity, economic injustice and more. Visit www.kiacroom.com to learn more. Don’t forget to subscribe to the Black Fundraisers’ Podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.