Dionne Kirby, M.Hum.
Senior Director of Philanthropy
Dionne currently serves as the Senior Director of Philanthropy at Literacy Achieves, a nonprofit organization in Dallas. She was hired as an Adult Program Manager with the same organization in 2017 and joined the development team two years later as the Associate Director of Development. Dionne earned a bachelor's degree at Lincoln University (PA) on a Gates Millennium Scholarship and later earned a Master of Humanities degree from Tiffin University. She continues to share her passion for education as an adjunct professor at a local college.
How did you get interested in the fundraising profession?
I was first introduced to the nonprofit arena while living in Washington D.C. I coordinated programs for an after-school program and later supported the Executive Director with board development, fundraisers, and organizational management. It wasn’t until after I left the organization that the ED informed me that I had been completing development tasks. I thought, “Yes! I loved all of that.”
What is something you wish you knew early on in your fundraising career?
I'm still learning that it will all be OK and I don't need to carry the weight of every detail of each project on my shoulders.
What is the one quality every fundraiser should have?
A sense of humor!
What inspires you about the fundraising profession?
Fundraising demonstrates an aspect of society that is consistently hopeful, invested, and expectant of great things, and it is an honor to work in this space.
How do you want to be remembered as a professional?
As the COVID-19 pandemic, claims so many lives impacting families around the world, this reality is very close. I hope to be remembered as one who helped others and gave her all.