We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Leslie Jefferson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Leslie below.
Leslie, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to start by getting your thoughts on what you are seeing as some the biggest trends emerging in your industry.
There are so many complexities in the nonprofit sector, but one major trend that we are seeing is the demand for true and organic diversity, equity, and inclusion implementation in the field – especially in philanthropic giving. While strides have been made to diversify the nonprofit sector as a whole, we are still fighting the historical and current trends of racial equity in the industry.
Leslie, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
My introduction into the nonprofit sector came by way of my sorority sister referring me to what would become a twelve year career in the educational out-of-school time nonprofit space. My entry level role was programmatic facing working with youth from marginalized communities to prepare them for college. My journey led to me moving into the administrative side of the organization where I fell in love with my work and responsibilities for grant writing, prospecting, and management. This experience catapulted my “side hustle” in providing grant services for grassroots and newer minority-led nonprofits. The heart of my work is not only supporting organizations in pursuing funding opportunities that are a fit and match to their organization, but also being intentional about their fundraising strategies. Minority-led nonprofit organizations are faced with the daunting task of fundraising in a field that still struggles with equitable funding opportunities to continue expanding its respective social cause and address its mission gap. I support these respective organizations in navigating the red tape of pursuing free funding for their organizations while overcoming the racial disparities within the sector. It is my endeavor to assist minority-led nonprofits in accessing equitable funding and then ultimately stewarding the funding opportunities that will continue to open avenues of continued funding to ensure minorities scale their organizations with sustainability.
Bio:
Leslie Jefferson currently serves as the Development Officer for Brookings Metro at The Brookings Institution to meet Brookings Metro’s annual fundraising goals to support Brookings Metro research based in fact and belief that every community can be prosperous, just, and resilient – no matter its starting point. She also is the Adjunct Professor of Nonprofit Leadership and Social Innovation for the University of Maryland, College Park School of Public Policy. In addition, Leslie also works contractually with The Black Mill as a lead grant writer and strategist, supporting grassroots and BlPOC-led organizations to overcome historical barriers to fundraising. She also served as the post-award Grants Manager for the Physical Sciences, Mathematics, and Environmental Justice departments at Georgetown University and managed multi millions of dollars in sponsored research grant funds for university professors to effectively run programs for the betterment of society. Lastly, Leslie is the Foundation Manager for the Black Greek Fest Foundation, overseeing the Foundation’s daily operations, fundraising goals, and community engagement.
Leslie had the esteemed pleasure of serving The SEED School of Maryland nonprofit educational, college preparatory boarding program for over 12 years as a Student Life Assistant, Student Life Counselor, Dean of Students, Family and Community Engagement Coordinator, Federal Grants and Community Engagement Manager, and Senior Federal Grants and Community Engagement Manager. During her time there, she served on S.E.E.D. Leads, focusing on institutional advancement and communities of practices to expand the educational model.
Leslie earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Anthropology from the Historically Black University, Lincoln University in Pennsylvania and received the Most Outstanding Anthropology Major award. In addition, she graduated Magna Cum Laude from Kaplan University earning a Master’s Degree in Teacher Education. In addition, Leslie earned a graduate certification in Nonprofit Management and Leadership as a Nonprofit Fellow from the University of Maryland College Park to expand her professional grant consultation services. Leslie is the proud Mom of two children and has a heart for serving people.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
As I have navigated my career in the nonprofit sector, I have had to unlearn and continue unlearning, the thoughts that are the root of my struggles with impostor syndrome. As a Type 1 – Perfectionist within the leadership enneagram framework, I am naturally very hard on myself in wanting to achieve the very best, which can also lead to feeling out of place when I am navigating a new and developing skill. In working to overcome impostor syndrome, I continue to study my craft while also reassuring myself that I truly have a niche skill to offer clients.
How do you keep your team’s morale high?
My advice for managing a team and maintaining high morale in the nonprofit sector is to build a true community engagement strategy, plan, and then execute those plans and strategies consistently. True community engagement will bring high morale because stakeholders’ voice is not only heard but truly implemented at each stage in organizational planning. In addition, leaders should be cognizant of using the skills represented across the four nonprofit leadership styles: transformational leadership, transactional leadership, charismatic leadership, and servant leadership. While leaders will naturally fall into one of these as their main leadership type – it is important to channel strengths from each type to manage a team at a high level in a sector that is standing up and leading social change causes.
Image Credits
Dillon Donolds – Dillon Donolds Studios