Helen Bryant
Helen has served in the social sector across fields that include international education, youth leadership development, and environmental justice. Helen’s early career began in program development for international professional exchange programs as a partner with the U.S. Department of State, then later as a Program Development Director at Cultural Vistas. After several years of leading programs, she made the shift to fundraising after honing in on writing and storytelling as her passion.
During her time at the League of Conservation Voters Education Fund and the Urban Institute, Helen drove fundraising strategies for portfolios focused on securing resources for the organizations’ racial justice and equity initiatives and programming. Her efforts raised millions in funding for a range of programs and organizational capacity building that enabled these organizations to significantly expand and deepen their work addressing racial injustice.
Helen’s success as a development professional is based on a deep understanding of how an organization’s mission, strategic vision, programming, and fundraising all interrelate in compelling ways, telling a story that funders, donors, and other stakeholders can connect to and ultimately support.
In addition to her career in development, Helen has traveled East Asia and West Africa as a teacher, writer, and volunteer. Born in Washington, DC and raised in Maryland, Helen is a proud auntie and spends her free time finding new trails in the DMV area to explore.
In Her Own Words
What is your favorite quote?
Photo courtesy of Lynn C. French
My development philosophy is heavily guided by a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: “Philanthropy is commendable, but it must not cause the philanthropist to overlook the circumstances of economic injustice which make philanthropy necessary.”
Who is your favorite woman fundraiser or philanthropist of color?
My cousin, Lynn C. French, who has served as a champion for fair housing and community development for decades. As a lecturer at the University of Virginia, through her work in the DC government, and in her current role as Executive Director of Hope and a Home, she has impacted residents across the city and changed thousands of lives.
She is one of the fiercest advocates I know, and she inspires me to keep going. Lynn embodies the principles I was born into - humility in service, pride in our community, and a duty to use our power to change the world for the better.
What inspired you to use your writing and education background in history to pursue a career in fundraising and philanthropy?
I believe the nonprofit sector has such an important story to tell. Words are a powerful tool for transformation and for me, shaping narratives is the best part of development work. I consider storytelling as core to my fundraising approach.
Narrative building gives me the ability to craft and share the story of amazing people and organizations fighting hard to change the world for the better. I am fortunate enough to serve in a career that allows me to leverage the power of persuasive writing to raise awareness and mobilize resources for causes I care deeply about.
Black women are playing a crucial role in driving calls for long-overdue change to the philanthropic sector.
Where do you want to be in 3 years?
I hope my place in philanthropy continues to expand. Over the next few years, I hope to continue to advocate for transformative philanthropy centered on the communities it serves. Black women are playing a crucial role in driving calls for long-overdue change to the philanthropic sector.
I am inspired by advocates such as Takema Robinson, Yvonne Moore, Brittany White, and many others whose work is revolutionizing how we think and talk about philanthropy. I hope to add my voice and perspective to this powerful chorus through writing, storytelling, and sharing in the community of fundraisers of color already doing this work.
Do you have any advice for other women of color entrepreneurs in the realm of philanthropy and fundraising –– whether they are in Canada, the United States, or the international WOC community at large?
One of the biggest lessons of my career has been to acknowledge and embrace your own unique brilliance. I think as women of color, society often tells us to fade into the background. That our ideas are not worthy, to serve the larger narrative and keep our voices to ourselves. Know that you have a powerful voice, even if you cannot see it in the moment. Share your ideas with confidence. Advocate for yourself with audacity. Be bold in your strategies and storytelling. Never forget that you are not alone in this.
