Nonprofits Are Messy Podcast

Ep 213: Racial Dynamics in Nonprofit Fundraising (with Mikaela Levons + Jamila Hodge)

by Joan Garry

Jamila Hodge and Mikaela Levons from Equal Justice USA join the podcast to discuss the challenges and strengths of fundraisers of color. We explore how race, white supremacy power dynamics, and lived experiences shape their approach to fundraising and leadership.

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A supervisor expressed concern that the Black woman that she hired to fundraise for her organization would not be able to relate to the wealthy white donors who were the target audience.

The Black woman, Mikaela Levons, was incredulous. As if her identity were a liability. When in fact, her identity is a superpower. 

But, let’s be honest. It’s been 4 years since the racial reckoning of George Floyd and the issue of race is as relevant now as it was then. One area where racial dynamics can create roadblocks for leaders of color is fundraising. 

In the recent report, The Lived Experience of Leaders of Color, one development director speaks to the situation plainly: 

“Fundraising reflects and magnifies the racial hierarchies of our culture.”

How so? And what is the true lived experience of BIPOC leaders – especially as it relates to fundraising?

My guests this week, Jamila Hodge and Mikaela Levons, share their experience as BIPOC leaders and how they navigate microaggression, the effects of white supremacy and power dynamics in fundraising, and the perceived liability of identity. 

Their insights reveal not only the challenges they face but also the incredible strengths they bring to their work. For anyone involved in nonprofit leadership, especially fundraisers or leaders of color, this episode provides invaluable lessons on resilience, authenticity, and the ongoing work of dismantling systems of power and privilege in philanthropy.

TUNE IN TO LEARN:

  • The Challenge of Fundraising as a Person of Color. Fundraising in general is a daunting task, but it becomes even more complex when race is factored into the equation. Mikaela reflects on how being a Black fundraiser brings an added layer of difficulty. She highlights that many funders, especially those who are older, wealthy, and predominantly white, may harbor preconceived notions about what an ideal fundraiser looks like or behaves like. This reality places additional emotional labor on fundraisers of color, who not only have to navigate these biases but also prove their worth and capability in ways that their white counterparts may not have to.
  • Superpowers of Fundraisers of Color. Fundraisers of color bring unique strengths to the table such as resilience, empathy, and authentic leadership styles that come from navigating the world as Black leaders. Their lived experience enables them to speak passionately and authentically about EJUSA’s work, particularly in the context of criminal justice reform.
  • Race, Power, and Philanthropy. Racial hierarchies in society are often magnified in the world of philanthropy. Fundraising reflects deep-seated inequalities, with many funders operating from positions of power and privilege that can exacerbate feelings of powerlessness among fundraisers of color.
  • 2020’s Racial Reckoning and Its Aftermath. The conversation also touches on the aftermath of the racial reckoning following George Floyd’s murder in 2020. There was an influx of attention and funding for racial justice causes during that time but the momentum has since waned. 

KEY QUOTES:

  • “You have to psych yourself up, so you come into those spaces with power, not as a beggar… You need to present your work as something that funders would be lucky to be part of.” (Jamila Hodge)
  • “We push the boulder up, and then it rolls back down. This happens time and time again in American history.” (Mikaela Levons)
  • “I talk about this work from the heart, not academically… It’s lived experience. I’ve seen it, felt it, and that’s the passion I bring.” (Jamila Hodge)
  • “Fundraising reflects and magnifies the racial hierarchies of our culture.” (The Lived Experience of Leaders of Color)
  • “We are walking and living with the reality that a lot of the gains and wealth we have came from extractive means.” (Mikaela Levons)
  • “Just because we’re a Black-led organization doesn’t mean we can’t perpetuate harm. We need to constantly interrogate ourselves.” (Jamila Hodge)

ABOUT GUESTS:

MIKAELA LEVONS

Mikaela is a native of Kingston, Jamaica with a passion for resourcing organizations that create social change. She is Chief of Development at Equal Justice USA, an organization that reimagines justice and builds community safety across the country. Previously, Mikaela was the Director of Advancement at Princeton AlumniCorps, an independent nonprofit that mobilizes people, organizations, and networks for public good. Prior to that, she worked at the Center for Nonprofits in New Jersey; the Martin House Foundation in Trenton’s East Ward; and New Jersey After 3, a statewide afterschool network.

She received her Bachelor’s degree from Princeton University’s School of Public & International Affairs and her Master’s in Nonprofit and NGO Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Social Policy & Practice. She’s Vice-Chair of the board of Young Audiences of NJ and Eastern PA, which inspires young people and expands their learning through the arts. She also serves on the board of the Fergus Simpson Foundation, a non-profit operating in rural Jamaica that aims to treasure the past, train the future, and transform the small community of Chapelton, Clarendon. She lives in central New Jersey with her husband, three daughters, and their chickens.

JAMILA HODGE

Jamila became EJUSA’s second executive director in 2021 bringing more than 15 years of criminal justice experience as a prosecutor, policy advisor, and technical assistance provider. Her goal is to establish EJUSA as a leader in building solutions to violence outside of the criminal legal system by demonstrating the impact of EJUSA’s work and expanding its reach throughout the country. She came to EJUSA after launching the Reshaping Prosecution Program at the Vera Institute of Justice, where she and her team worked with progressive prosecutors, community-based organizations, and people impacted by the system to develop policy and practice reforms to end mass incarceration and reduce racial disparities within the system. One of the signature initiatives she launched was Motion for Justice, which centers racial equity in transforming the role of the prosecutor and aims to implement concrete racial equity strategies in partnership with community-based organizations.

Before Vera, Jamilalogged many achievements across a 12-year career in the U.S. Department of Justice as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia. She spent four of those years as a community prosecutor focused on intervention and prevention of harm. She also served in the Office of Legal Policy, where she helped shape policies for people returning from incarceration and those seeking access to counsel in criminal proceedings. Later, she worked in the office of then-Vice President Joe Biden as an advisor on criminal justice and drug policies. Jamila has demonstrated her expertise on CBS, MSNBC, ABC Nightline, and many other media outlets. She earned her law degree from Duke University School of Law and her Bachelor of Arts in psychology and sociology at the University of Michigan. She lives in the greater Washington, D.C. area with her husband and two daughters.

RESOURCES:

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