Yolanda F. Johnson

Founder
President and Founder, YFJ Consulting

With a wealth of experience in the non-profit sector, Yolanda F. Johnson, a leader in fundraising, philanthropy and Inclusive Philanthropy, 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 Inclusive Philanthropy 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. 

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 Inclusive Philanthropy. 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. Yolanda was recently appointed to the Women’s Philanthropy Institute National Council as well as the Leadership Network for the Amplify Her Charitable Foundation.