Tisha Hyter
After 15 years in Corporate America as a Sales Leader, Tisha pivoted her skillset and career path towards international nonprofits and local organizations that focus on the rights for women, people of color and disenfranchised communities. Most recently, Tisha served as Vice President for TIME’S UP, where she was responsible for building and overseeing their individual giving programs, hiring and training development staff, collaborating with peers in Marketing and Strategy to build partnerships in the sports and entertainment industries, representing TIME’S UP to external audiences and building a culture of philanthropy.
Prior to her work with TIME’S UP, Tisha held several leadership roles with successful nonprofits serving as Director of Philanthropic Engagement at National Women’s Law Center, Deputy Director at the United Nations Foundation, and Director of Major Gifts at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington. Her experience with these organizations has spanned from Southeast Washington, DC to Southeast Africa and includes event management, development of annual and capital campaigns, creating global strategies, and donor optimization.
Working in sales management for companies such as FedEx and Verizon, Tisha has trained hundreds of professionals on the fundamentals of product knowledge, time and territory management, and goal setting and achievement. She has also used those same skills as a volunteer to personally help fundraise several million dollars in the faith, culture, and education realms; perhaps the highlight of her community service came when she co-chaired a record-breaking fundraiser for a domestic violence organization with former First Lady Michelle Obama as its featured guest.
In Her Own Words
What is your favorite quote?
My birthday is August 31st (which is 8/31) so years ago I discovered something I call my “Birthday Verse”: Romans 8:31 says “What, then, shall we say about all these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”. It helps me put any challenge into perspective.
Who is your favorite woman fundraiser or philanthropist of color?
Pamela Lewis, Executive Director
Photo Credit: New Economy Initiative
My sister-in-law, Pamela Lewis, is the Executive Director of the New Economy Initiative, a major division of the Community Foundation of Southeast Michigan. They have provided over $160 Million in grants to help entrepreneurs in the Detroit-metro area launch and scale their businesses; they also provided over $5 Million in pandemic support in that space last year. She just received a highly coveted award for her leadership in this space but I truly admire her humble approach to community impact and the transformative effect of inclusive-focused philanthropy.
What inspired you to pivot from a career in sales management to fundraising for international nonprofits and local organizations that focus on the rights for women, people of color and disenfranchised communities?
In 2005, I decided to take a break from corporate America and focus on my family. Pretty quickly, I found that I really loved serving as a volunteer at my kids’ schools, our church and the local theatre; I was usually involved with some part of fundraising or leadership so my business skills came in handy.
Eventually, I branched out to organizations and endeavors that supported causes that were very personal to me like domestic violence, single mothers and low-income communities and I was soon asked to join the staff at my church to focus on that work.
When my family and I relocated to Washington, D.C. in 2013, I was able to transfer all of that corporate and nonprofit experience-both paid and unpaid- to some wonderful roles in Development with great nonprofits located here.
…When you’re not working, don’t forget to “Look In!” by finding time to relax, reflect and recharge; as the saying goes, “you can’t pour from an empty cup”.
Where do you want to be in 3 years?
Even though I’ve been at the Orr Group for just over a year, I feel like I’m still learning so much about the dynamic world of consulting.
I have loved the experience of working alongside the leadership of incredible organizations such as Echoing Green, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Black Girls Code and more on fundraising-related projects; I want to continue to help my clients secure unprecedented funding and support for their causes as the best consultant I can be.
And personally, I visualize that I have finished my book series, have brought it to life on the big screen and am in the tough position of figuring out what to wear to the Academy Awards as a nominee.
Do you have any advice for other women of color fundraisers–– whether they are in Canada, the United States, or the international WOC community at large?
Professionally, my philosophy is to “Look Up, Down & Around!”. Find a great mentor and invest in that relationship. Reach out to someone more junior in their careers and ask how you can help.
Build an authentic network of other talented women who can be advisors, advocates, even friends who are also in philanthropy. And when you’re not working, don’t forget to “Look In!” by finding time to relax, reflect and recharge; as the saying goes, “you can’t pour from an empty cup”. Self-care benefits both your personal and professional lives; it helps you bring your “best-self” to everything you do.
