Kia Croom is a 25-year frontline fundraising veteran who has raised over $1 billion for nonprofits advancing justice and equity across the globe. Her thought leadership equips nonprofit executives and fundraisers alike with the tools to build enduring fundraising resilience, secure transformational gifts at the five-, six-, and seven-figure levels, and elevate fund development strategies across networks of both emerging and legacy institutions.
Through her dynamic keynotes, panel engagements, and workshops, Kia offers bold, equity-centered insights grounded in real-world practice, shaping how the philanthropic sector meets this moment. She is a sought-after strategic partner to organizations such as the Association of Fundraising Professionals Global, the African American Development Officers Network (AADO), Bonterra, and Arreva.
Kia has delivered hands-on fundraising coaching to more than two dozen nonprofit organizations nationwide in partnership with Bonterra. Over the past two years, she has provided intensive fundraising capacity-building support to nearly 30 nonprofits in Los Angeles and Detroit through philanthropic partnerships with Southern California Grantmakers and the Detroit Residents First Fund. These partnerships focused on supporting emergent organizations with budgets between $250,000 and $1 million.
In addition to her fundraising leadership, Kia is a traveled folk herbalist who integrates wellness into her pedagogy, encouraging nonprofit leaders to center self-care and healing as essential practices for sustaining their mission-driven work.
Kia moderated Courageous Communication: Navigating Difficult DEI Conversations with the Board, Donors, and Staff Colleagues, a dynamic session for nonprofit professionals across career levels. The discussion offered practical strategies for leading honest, equity-centered conversations that build understanding and strengthen organizational culture
Through her engaging and insightful webinars, Kia brings her signature Liberatory Fundraising™ approach to the virtual stage—equipping hundreds of nonprofit and philanthropic leaders with the tools to reimagine fundraising as a liberatory practice. Her sessions, often described as part strategy and part soul work, center justice, community, and sustainability in every ask—helping participants reconnect to purpose while sharpening their fundraising edge.
Kia speaks on a wide range of topics at the intersection of fundraising, philanthropy, sustainability, and wellness, drawing on 26 years of global experience and more than $1B raised to help nonprofits and funders navigate complexity, build capacity, and sustain mission-critical work.
Kia introduces Liberatory Fundraising™ Pedagogy, a values-aligned approach to fundraising that centers sustainability, dignity, and results. Drawing on 26 years of global experience and more than $1B raised, she challenges extractive fundraising norms and offers practical strategies that help organizations raise five, six, and seven-figure gifts while remaining grounded in mission, culture, and community.
This session explores the Success Partner Model™, a framework that reimagines the relationship between funders and nonprofits. Kia outlines how pairing capital with fundraising capacity building and pro bono technical assistance strengthens grantee sustainability and reduces long-term dependency. Participants gain a clear view of how funders can move beyond transactional grantmaking toward durable, trust-based partnership.
Major gifts are not accidental. In this session, Kia breaks down how organizations can identify, qualify, and close major gifts at the five, six, and seven-figure level. She focuses on structuring strong donor offers, aligning organizational priorities with donor intent, and building the internal discipline required to pursue transformational gifts consistently.s the Success Partner Model™, a framework that reimagines the relationship between funders and nonprofits. Kia outlines how pairing capital with fundraising capacity building and pro bono technical assistance strengthens grantee sustainability and reduces long-term dependency. Participants gain a clear view of how funders can move beyond transactional grantmaking toward durable, trust-based partnership.
Periods of economic, political, and philanthropic uncertainty require focus and clarity. Kia examines how nonprofits can stabilize revenue, prioritize the highest-yield fundraising strategies, and make disciplined decisions when resources are constrained. This session is designed to help organizations adapt without losing momentum or compromising long-term sustainability.
Fundraising systems impact people. In this session, Kia explores the connection between fundraising practice and organizational well-being, examining how scarcity, urgency, and overextension undermine effectiveness. She offers a grounded approach to building fundraising strategies that are sustainable for organizations and the people leading the work.
Nonprofits are being asked to do more with less—often with fewer resources, smaller teams, and increasing community need. Many are facing real threats to their sustainability, and some will not survive this moment. When organizations are forced to close or scale back, mission-critical programs disappear, and communities feel the impact first.
This moment presents philanthropy with a vital opportunity. How funders show up now will determine whether nonprofits are able to navigate complexity, stabilize their work, and build toward the future—or whether they are left without the support needed to adapt and endure. Kia’s work helps align fundraising strategy, capacity building, and partnership so essential missions can continue rather than collapse.
