Ethics and Diversity - Erica Adams-O'Neil and Stephanie Guberman

Do you know how to engage a diverse audience of donors? Is your organization prepared to take a holistic approach to diversity with a board, development team and constituents to reflect all people? Join us to discover how to address cultural differences in donor engagement and learn how your organization can celebrate your diverse database and take steps to create a more diverse work culture. And how does this intertwine with ethics in fundraising?

Erica Edwards-O'Neal is a strategic diversity, equity and social responsibility professional and lawyer. Bringing more than 25 years’ experience, she is a business executive that has provided guidance, counsel, and training across the country on topics including cultural competence, implicit bias, microaggressions, inclusive leadership, inclusive human resource practices and EEO compliance. Additionally, she is an experienced EEO officer skilled in conducting investigations, resolution of employee relations matters, HR laws, and industry best practices.

In late 2020, Erica joined the New York Road Runners (NYRR) as the Senior Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. She spearheads the organization’s diversity, equity, and inclusion strategy across all business units and levels of the organization. Under her leadership, she will direct NYRR’s cultural shift to a more inclusive environment that will extend to the community that it serves. As part of this role, she is leading the policies and practices to embed equity and belonging principles in the organizational DNA.

Previously, she held the position of Senior Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Social Responsibility for the New York City Economic Development Corporation. In that role, she oversaw the development of policies and programs to attract, retain, and foster a diverse and inclusive workforce. Erica has a long-standing commitment to diversity and public service. Her other professional experiences of diversity leadership include serving as the Director of Diversity and Inclusion and Senior Career Counselor at Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center, the Director of Legislative Advocacy Coalition at the Health & Welfare Council, and the Community Development Liaison at Americorp VISTA.

Erica received her B.A in Government from the College of William and Mary and her J.D. from Touro Law College.

Stephanie Guberman is senior staff counsel to one of the largest local non-profits based in NY, where she has worked for over 23 years. She is a dedicated and dynamic professional focused on all issues fundraising, planned giving, contracts, corporate governance, intellectual property, IT and marketing. She has a proven track record of success and impact as a leader in organizations that focus on social justice, human rights and community. She is a frequent speaker on strategy, event planning, event management, and partnership cultivation across a variety of organizational and community sectors to achieve successful outcomes for the community.

Full participation in Diversity and Ethics is applicable for 1.5 points in Category 1.B – Education of the CFRE International application for initial certification and/or recertification.