Cultivating An Evergreen Community for Women of Color

Wouldn’t it be amazing to have a place of support, empowerment, and inspiration that’s informative AND fun? Welcome, sis – You’ve found it.


The Rooted Collaborative®️
is a female-focused and led community for BIPOC female leaders, entrepreneurs, advocates, and artists who are redefining the look of philanthropy and fundraising through our eyes.

4000 Women Engaged Globally •

900+ Active Community Members •

14% Of Members Hold the CFRE Designation •

700+ Rooted Retreat® Attendees •

4000 Women Engaged Globally • 900+ Active Community Members • 14% Of Members Hold the CFRE Designation • 700+ Rooted Retreat® Attendees •

About

Let’s Root For Each Other And Watch Each Other Grow...

Did you know? Women of Color in the social sector are most likely to have an advanced degree but least likely to hold a leadership role within an institution or organization. Instead, they are most likely to hold a line staff role with significant unseen barriers to promotion and advancement. The Rooted Collaborative® exists to support our members as they navigate the landscape, promoting healthy retention in the sector.

How It Started…

The Dinner That Changed Everything

One crisp fall evening in Toronto in 2018, around a dinner table with a dynamic group of black women who are powerhouses in fundraising, the conversation turned to why women of color are leaving the fundraising profession and the social sector and what could be done about it. Out of that conversation and subsequent meetings with other senior fundraisers around the world, The Rooted Collaborative® was born.

The Job Board

We Are Attracted To Growth + Development

Looking to make a move? Check out our current Job Postings from organizations around the globe.

We are a growing global online community of women fundraisers of color representing 16 countries and counting. We honor the diversity of that global community and the spectrum of that diversity, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ability.

We know that the average senior role in Development takes 16-20 weeks to fill. We are committed to highlighting exciting opportunities for our members and providing connecting our partners to the amazing talent in our community.

The Rooted Collaborative® is a global community focused on the growth and development of women leaders of color in the social impact sector.

Our Core Values 

  • Authenticity: We believe in the importance of leveraging your personal passion and purpose in the work you do and honoring who you are as a part of what you do each day. 

  • Leadership by Example: We believe that organizational leaders are catalysts for impact and charge our community members with modeling best practices of strong leadership and management to better support our organizations and those who look to use as examples of leadership in the work. We strive to live the values we support others in embodying.

  • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI): We believe in the importance of applying a diversity, equity and inclusion lens to fundraising and within the organizations we serve. As a part of our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, we are also specifically committed to gender equality (including pay equity) and racial justice and we actively work to counter white supremacy and white dominant cultural norms; globally.

  • Collaboration: We believe in the principle of collaboration and recognize the value and importance of mentorship and partnership in community development initiatives and the broader social impact movements. 

  • Let the people you serve lead you: As leaders in social impact, we acknowledge the importance of centering strategy development and approach on the communities we serve, ensuring that we define impact collaboratively with the communities we hope to positively impact through fundraising and philanthropy.

Join Our Community

Digital Community

We share resources, regional events, and professional development opportunities through Facebook and Instagram.

We serve as active advocates for our members and partners, sharing spotlights and highlighting their accomplishments, as well as new opportunities for leadership in the field. For our members, this includes sharing opportunities for speaking engagements, panel summaries, job opportunities, articles, and monthly newsletters.

Meet Kishshana Palmer

About our Founder

Kishshana Palmer, CFRE is a podcaster, trainer, coach, author and keynote speaker. She is Founder of “The Rooted Collaborative” and host of Let’s Take This Offline: The Podcast for Everyday Leaders.She is the foremost expert on the future of collaborative leadership and building thriving high performing teams. Her ethos stems from the belief that we have to build together, and it starts by looking within. She’s an evangelist in her belief that having amazing talent is the #1 competitive advantage in your business, and her focus ensures that talent - found at highest and lowest levels of the organization - can build the most vibrant cultures of philanthropy.

Events •

Events •

In Case You Missed It

Galentine’s Day 2023

The Rooted Collaborative® hosted a memorable Galentine's Day event and swap party, bringing together a diverse group of women to celebrate friendship and empowerment. The atmosphere was electrifying as attendees laughed, danced, and connected with one another. With drinks in hand and hearts full, the event was made even more special through the generous sponsorship of Bloomerang®, a brand that empowers fundraisers to do what they love and build a world inspired by giving.

We want to hear from you!

Help us decide where to hold the next Rooted Collaborative® Pop-Up Event.

Do you want to suggest your city for the next Rooted Collaborative® Pop-Up Event? Are you interested in hosting The Rooted Collaborative at your space or event location or do you know of a great space to suggest?

The Rooted Retreat®

The Rooted Retreat® brings together Black and brown women leaders of the social sector in a fun, engaging experience to learn together, empower each other, connect to self on deeper levels and forecast what’s next personally and professionally.

What’s Next For The Rooted Collaborative®

The Rooted Collaborative is excited to partner with companies, foundations, and storied institutions that are committed to the advancement of women and believe in the power of creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforce in the social sector. 

Whether it’s a for-profit CSR team charged with advancing social impact, a foundation charged with making critical investments in issue areas globally or locally, or a large institution with development team members who need additional support and professional development, partnering with the Rooted Collaborative is a great investment of your resources. Contact us here to discuss our corporate membership and benefits with the team.