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About me:


Lives:  New York City


Works: Globally


Areas of Focus:  Strategic thinking, planning and execution; talent development and organizational capacity; research, writing, editing; group facilitation.

CURRENT PRO BONO affiliations:


The Foundation Review | Expert Reviewer


Philanthropy New York | Mentor, Young Leaders Program




I am an independent consultant to philanthropic and social sector organizations. With expertise in the dynamics of impact - mission, strategy, collaboration, and continuous learning - I ground my work in a deep commitment to equity and belonging, and help clients to meaningfully advance from ideation to execution.


Examples of my work include:


  • Enterprise-level strategy mapping and development
  • Cross-functional community collaboratives
  • Program and initiative design, management, assessment and learning
  • Field/sector-level talent development
  • Thought leadership​ and executive communications
  • Curricula design, in both academic and practitioner settings


My practice builds on two decades of leadership in philanthropy in a variety of roles.  I have led major strategy, evaluation and organizational learning initiatives - including building capacity to embrace and leverage change - for the Surdna Foundation, where I served as director for planning and strategic initiatives.  Earlier in my career, I served as a chief aide to the president of The Rockefeller Foundation, directing the activities of the executive office and special projects, including speechwriting.


An active proponent of and participant in communities of practice that bring people together to find solutions and support innovation, I was a member of the first cohort of participants in the Executive Program for Philanthropy Leaders at Stanford University's School of Business. I enjoy sharing ideas and have spoken widely about core topics in philanthropy including organizational learning, the intersection of philanthropic voice and impact, and the future of the social sector.  


Additionally, I support a variety social sector organizations in an advisory capacity in roles including board member and donor, consultant, advocate, mentor, and thought partner. My board service has included: Center for Effective Philanthropy (Advisory Board); Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (Board of Directors); and LearnPhilanthropy.org (Co-Founder and Advisory Board). I am a frequent reviewer for The Foundation Review, the peer-reviewed journal on grantmaking practice. And I have been selected to serve multiple stints as a mentor to emerging foundation leaders for Philanthropy New York, the principal professional community of philanthropists based in the New York City region. 


All by way of saying I bring a real practitioner's lens to the work I do... and a

deep commitment to the health and vitality of the sector itself.

DARA MAJOR PHILANTHROPY CONSULTING

info @ DARAMAJOR.COM


Presentations and guest lectures include:


Association of Junior Leagues International


Columbia University | School of International and Public Affairs


Duke University | Sanford School of Public Policy


Independent Sector

Dara Major  © all rights reserved except where otherwise indicated


Philanthropy AND SOCIAL SECTOR Consulting