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Satonya Fair, JD

Satonya's headshot in a black blouse with silver jewelry.

Principal Strategist & CEO

Satonya (she/her) has extensive knowledge in nonprofits and philanthropic ecosystems, leadership development, governance, compliance, risk management, change management, racial equity and inclusion, grants management and operations, community engagement, partnership development, fiscal and investment management. Courage, creativity, and a collaborative spirit are core to how she navigates every task. 

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Satonya works to ensure philanthropic institutions collaborate equally with nonprofit leaders, combining their expertise for greater impact and progress toward shared goals.  

​"In my professional life, I always prioritize transparency, even when it’s challenging. I don’t align myself with partisan ideologies; instead, I focus on ethical leadership. I believe in being conscious of social issues and acting with compassion. For me, caring for the wellbeing of others is a minimum requirement for those of us working in the social impact sector."

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Through The We Collective, Satonya brings her experience alongside other experts - working collectively - to help visionary organizations and leaders build possibilities into practice.

Visionary | Equity Advocate | Philanthropy Enthusiast

Career Highlights

PEAK Grantmaking

Grew organizational revenue from $2.5M to $6M and membership from 280 to 600 organizations. Secured a $3M MacKenzie Scott investment — the organization’s largest-ever single-donor commitment — citing Satonya’s leadership and forward vision. Expanded volunteer engagement by 110% in three years and positioned PEAK as a sector-wide policy collaborator, innovator, and thought leader.

The Executive Leadership Council

Built philanthropic strategy centered on Black executive development, HBCU investment, and nonprofit capacity building. Led the CEO GameChangers Conference, a national convening focused on closing the C-Suite representation gap for Black executives.

The Annie E. Casey Foundation

Directed a five-person grants team managing more than $100MM annually and 1,000 grant and consultant contracts. Architected a custom enterprise grants management system and online grantmaking portal that reduced grant approval timelines from six months to under 30 days — revolutionizing the foundation’s responsiveness to the nonprofit community.

CitiFinancial & Citi Global Community Development

Managed $15MM in annual grants to 400+ nonprofits across the U.S. and Canada. Built a train-the-trainer financial literacy model that reached more than 10,000 people annually across 48 states and Canada. Served as key personnel for Community Reinvestment Act audits and regulatory compliance.

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Credentials & Affiliations

Education & Certifications

JD, University of Cincinnati College of Law

BA, Political Science & Psychology, Miami University (Ohio)

  • FutureGood Studio

  • Racial Healing Fellow (Community Philanthropy), University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service

  • PROSCI® Change Management

  • Council on Foundations Career Pathways Executive Leadership

 

Board Service and Community Engagement

  • Treasurer & Finance Chair, The Communications Network (2024–Present)

  • Advisory Board, Bowie State University Philanthropy Initiative (2024–Present) 

  • Senior Advisor, Maryland Institute College of Art — Photography + Media & Society MFA Program (2023–Present)

from possible to practice

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