our team

Interim CEO

Gloria is a dynamic executive and creative growth strategist renowned for her marketing impact on local and national brands across diverse industries, including media, arts and  community economic development. Gloria has made significant contributions in both corporate enterprises and community initiatives spanning thirty years of service.  Her extensive experience encompasses a distinguished career in the public, private, and philanthropic realms where she honed a double-bottom line approach to business. Most recently, Gloria founded a groundbreaking economic justice nonprofit, the DC Community Development Consortium. The organization’s mission focuses on closing the 81x racial wealth gap in Washington, DC, by providing crucial support to credit-invisible entrepreneurs and small businesses through innovative economic equity strategies. Gloria has a track record of working with donors, businesses, and local government to manage effective community investments and create tangible, lasting change in the region.

Gloria‘s dedication to arts and economic development is evident through her executive leadership, board appointments and senior advisory roles in various professional and community-based organizations, including Viva Dance School, Words Beats & Life, Women of Color in Community Development, Anacostia Youth Media & Film Festival, Capitalbop.com, Ward8 Community Economic Development Plan, and 100 Black Women of DC (National Council of Black Women).

Pronouns: she/her

Membership & Development

Sharifa is the Director of Membership and Development at Philanthropy DMV. She brings extensive experience in nonprofit fundraising, data management, and communications, most recently serving as the Development Manager at SMYAL, an LGBTQ+ youth-serving nonprofit.

Sharifa is thrilled she has landed at Philanthropy DMV and is excited to work with member organizations and sponsors to deepen grantmaking in the region to address racial and economic justice in philanthropy. Sharifa hails from Rockville, MD, and received her Bachelor of Psychology from Yale University.

When not at work, Sharifa can be found playing rugby, being the least flexible person in a yoga class, cooking an elaborate meal, or searching for the best type of French fry.

Pronouns: she/her

Marketing & Communications

Kelcie has extensive experience in brand development, digital marketing, marketing automation, integrated digital campaigns, and social media optimization. Her client-based projects have allowed her to have on-going relationships with major brands like Amazon, Bozzuto, Kettler, Apple, Nordstrom, Jim Beam, Jack Daniels, Samsung, and many others. She has worked with brands on inclusivity initiatives, often developing brand strategies for new markets.

She also has expertise in political communication and messaging, policy and advocacy, and has worked with several progressive organizations. She was a communications consultant for two elected DC council members and has led digital marketing and organizing for three campaigns for the Communications Workers of America, helping the union find frontline workers who deserve more protection and job security.

In her downtime, Kelcie enjoys running and trying new restaurants in the DMV area.

Pronouns: she/her

Programming & Events

Celeste James is a national health and social impact strategist who promotes well-being at the intersection of healthcare and community health. In 2023, Celeste launched a consulting practice that helps organizations in the public and private sectors design and activate impact strategies that yield positive results for business and society. With 20+ years of experience in population health, philanthropy/impact investing, and communications, she is a valued partner in building highly effective programs and practices, cross-sector partnerships, and investment portfolios to address critical social drivers of health. Food is medicine and food access; economic opportunity; and climate and environmental justice are some of the topical areas she helps organizations understand and fund to advance population health and equity.

“At the basis of my work and what excites me most is harnessing the power of community and stakeholders to help solve problems, building creative – sometimes unlikely – partnerships, closing socio-economic gaps with strategic funding and programming decisions, and telling powerful stories backed by data.”

Pronouns: she/her