Jonathan Meagher-Zayas

Jonathan Meagher-Zayas is a Nonprofit Educator and Accountability Architect who designs engaging learning opportunities and partners with professionals to develop strategies and systems that make change stick. He is a Queer Latinx Millennial Nonprofit Leadership strategist dedicated to addressing equity issues, building capacity, engaging the community, motivating impact leaders, and getting stuff done. As an Equity Warrior, he wears many professional hats, including Nonprofit Capacity Building Educator, Community Engagement Strategist, Adjunct Social Work Professor, Diversity Equity & Inclusion Consultant, Leadership Development Trainer, Award-Winning Fundraiser/Resource Mobilizer, Impact Sector Coach & Facilitator, Learning and Social Contexts Doctoral Candidate, and Social Justice Champion. With 15+ years of professional nonprofit experience, Jonathan has expertise in fundraising, communications, volunteer management, program management, leadership development, board governance, community engagement, public affairs, inclusion, diversity, equity, and access work. As an award-winning fundraiser and resource mobilizer, he has raised over $14.5 million through major gifts, corporate relations, events, foundation philanthropy, government grants, and annual giving initiatives. He has coached and supported hundreds of nonprofit board leaders with board governance, engagement, leadership development, and effectiveness assessment and planning. He has extensive experience in leadership development, strategic planning, and advancing diversity, inclusion, and equity initiatives. He is a global educator who has trained hundreds of nonprofit leaders online, at in-person conferences, and customized workshops.
Jonathan embraces a growth mindset and has a diverse educational background. He earned his Master of Social Work degree with a MACRO Concentration and his Master of Public Administration degree with a concentration in nonprofit management from the University at Albany, SUNY. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Religion, Linguistics, and Gender Studies from the University of Rochester. He holds two professional certifications: Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) and Certified Diversity Professional (CDP). He is also a Certified T.E.A.M. Communication Styles® Facilitator, a Standards of Excellence Impact HQ Coach with the Nonprofit Support Group, and holds a BoardSource Certificate of Nonprofit Board Consulting. He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Learning and Social Contexts at the University at Buffalo, SUNY, where he studies critical pedagogy and transformative learning in nonprofit leadership and human services management education. (Contact Jonathan at jonathan@equitywarriorstrategies.com)