Our instructors

Nneka Allen

Nneka Allen, CFRE, is a Black woman, a descendant of the Underground Railroad, an Ojibwa of Anderson Nation, a mother and a sixth-generation Canadian.

Nneka was raised during a time of Black power and acute political awareness in North America. At home, her parents and relatives poured their consciousness into her multiethnic identity. Her upbringing inspired her passion for justice, activism and philanthropy.

For 20 years, Nneka has worked and inspired philanthropy in the non-profit industry. She’s the principal and founder of The Empathy Agency, helping organizations deliver more fairly on their mission and vision. In her work, she coaches leaders and their teams to explore the effects identity have on organizational culture and equity goals.

Nneka honours the spirit of generosity in all people, and is passionate about the many contributions Black Canadian philanthropists have made. Her recent projects include Our Right to Heal, a project with the Association of Fundraising Professionals that features the authentic stories of a group of women at various points in their fundraising careers. Nneka brought these women together to share their professional and personal experiences, and gain strength and understanding through those connections.

Nneka is also the author and joint editor of Collecting Courage: Joy, Pain, Freedom, Love, a book featuring the first person narratives of 14 Black fundraisers in the United States and Canada.