Sonya Shields
Sonya Shields has over 27 years of nonprofit executive experience with local, national, and international organizations in the social justice and human rights space.
Sonya has deep experience in development, marketing, and communications, along with program and organizational development. She has raised millions of dollars to help strengthen mission-driven organizations – taking organizations to another level of visibility and engagement to diversify their funding base. She has served as the Director of Development for the National LGBTQ Task Force, NYC Anti-Violence Project, Astraea Foundation, and Keep a Child Alive. She held the position of Chief Officer for External Relations at Brooklyn Community Services and Chief Operating Officer at Getting Out Staying Out.
Sonya has worked as a consultant with over two dozen nonprofits including Rainbow Railroad, Children of Promise, NYC, Partners in Dignity and Human Rights, Interfaith Center for Corporate Responsibility, National Harm Reduction Coalition, and the Washington, DC Tennis and Education Foundation to name a few.
Sonya is a sought-after speaker, coach, and trainer. She has been a guest speaker and trainer for institutions like Columbia University Business School, Nonprofit Quarterly, Nonprofit Westchester, Staten Island Nonprofit, Better Business Bureau, Association of Black Foundation Executives, Junior League of New York, Fairfield County Community Foundation, Association of Fundraising Professionals of New York and many more.
Sonya is on the Board of Directors of the Association for Fundraising Professionals-New York and the American LGBTQ Museum. Sonya received a B.A. in Public Relations from Howard University in Washington, DC, and lives in Brooklyn, New York.
