Work with Kia

About KIA

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.

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Conferences

Recognized for her visionary voice in fundraising and philanthropy, Kia has been invited to share her insights on some of the sector’s most influential stages. She is a sought-after visionary, thought leader, and keynote speaker known for inspiring fundraisers and social impact leaders globally.

She has been a featured speaker at major conferences and events, including the Bridge Conference, Arreva Driven by Cause Philanthropy Summit, AADO & CASE, Nonprofit Technology Conference, the Maryland Nonprofits Conference, and many more. S

Kia moderated Courageous Communication: Navigating Difficult DEI Conversations with the Board, Donors, and Staff Colleague, 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.
Kia Croom hosted a two day herbal botanical art installation at the Black Gotham Experience Gallery in New York City, featuring her signature Tea Blend & Sip™ by Itutu experience. Gallery goers were invited to create their own bespoke tea blends using thoughtfully curated herbs and botanicals from Itutu Apothecary & Tea Room. Throughout the installation, Kia guided guests through the basics of folk herbalism and the art of tea alchemy, framing blending as a tool for self discovery, creativity, and joy. The experience transformed the gallery into a sensory space where people could slow down, learn, and leave with both a custom tea blend and a deeper appreciation for plant medicine.

Individual Giving Conference, Keynote 2023

At the 2023 Individual Giving Conference, sponsored by Neon One and Fundraising Everywhere, Kia delivered the keynote address, offering bold insights on reimagining individual giving through an equity-centered lens. She challenged fundraisers to lead with authenticity, build trust with donors, and center community in their strategies for long-term sustainability

Neon One Generosity Exchange 2023 Fundraising: The Heart Work & Science

At Neon One’s Generosity Exchange 2023, Kia delivered the keynote, offering a powerful call to reimagine fundraising as both a strategic discipline and a deeply human practice. She explored how fundraisers can lead with purpose, data, and heart to drive lasting impact.

2023 Bridge Integrated Marketing & Fundraising Conference -Washington, DC Building Five- and Six-Figure Strategic Corporate Partnerships that Center DEI.

Kia provided nonprofit CEOs, fundraisers, and consultants with a strategic framework for securing five- and six-figure corporate partnerships that center DEI. The session focused on crafting values-aligned offers, navigating corporate priorities, and building lasting, equity-rooted relationships.

Nonprofit Technology Conference, April 2023 – Denver, CO

At the 2023 Nonprofit Technology Conference in Denver, Kia facilitated AI: The Great Equalizer, a workshop sponsored by Funraise. Geared toward nonprofit professionals and tech and marketing experts, the session explored how BIPOC-led and serving nonprofits can leverage Al to amplify their impact, streamline fundraising, and reclaim time and capacity for mission-critical work.
At the 2025 Arreva Driven by Cause Philanthropic Summit, Kia Croom hosted Sip & Strategize: A Fundraising Tea Circle, an intimate session that blended fundraising strategy with a grounding tea experience. Kia, who is not only a global fractional fundraiser but also a world traveled folk herbalist, welcomed attendees with handcrafted artisan teas and delicious tea cakes from her latest venture, Itutu Apothecary & Tea Room. She then led a candid conversation about real world fundraising tactics for the moment we are in now, sharing practical strategies for deepening donor relationships, strengthening revenue, and caring for oneself while doing high stakes fundraising work. The workshop received stellar reviews for its warmth, originality, and immediately usable insights.

WOC-Women of Color in Fundraising and Philanthropy 2022 Symposium Courageous Communication: Navigating Difficult DEI Conversations with the Board, Donors, Staff, and Colleagues

Ka 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

Cause Camp, October 2022, Panelist – Sandusky, OH

Kia discussed multi-cultural fundraising and ways BIPOC-led organizations can find and connect with their tribe.

African American Development Officers Network (AADO)
Conference | CASE Conference 2023 Launching and Running a Successful Consultancy

Kia was a panelist for Launching and Running a Successful Consultancy. Drawing from her experience as a 25-year, frontline nonprofit fundraiser turned fractional fundraising entrepreneur, she offered practical insights on building a values-aligned consulting practice, securing clients, and navigating the transition from in-house to independent. The audience included nonprofit and higher ed development & advancement professionals of color.

Black Wealth Street Symposium & Luncheon, February 2024

Sponsored by Positive Steps NY, these two transformative events centered on Kia Croom and her work to advance equity and economic inclusion in Black communities. On Feb 26, Kia served as a panelist for the Black Wealth Street virtual symposium, contributing to a dynamic conversation on dismantling systemic barriers to Black economic mobility. On Feb 27, she delivered the keynote at an in-person luncheon in Rochester, NY, where she introduced the first-ever online fundraising learning platform built by Kia Croom Fundraising & Philanthropy in partnership with Ethos Media and Marketing, designed specifically to strengthen Black-led/focused organizations’ fundraising capacity.

Webinars

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.

Speaking topics

LIBERATORY FUNDRAISING™ PEDAGOGY

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.

THE SUCCESS PARTNER MODEL™ TO PHILANTHROPY

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 FUNDRAISING

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.

FUNDRAISING AMID UNCERTAIN TIMES

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 & WELLNESS

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.