Donyel Johnson

Meet Donyel Johnson, Senior Director of Philanthropic Growth at School Board Partners. Donyel is a strategic development leader and lifelong advocate for education equity, dedicated to ensuring that every child, regardless of background, has access to the resources and leadership they need to thrive. With more than a decade of experience in fundraising, donor strategy, and institutional advancement, Donyel has secured over $50 million in transformational investment for mission-driven organizations across education, youth development, and community engagement. Her previous leadership roles include Teach For America, the Public Education Foundation, the Creative Discovery Museum, and Boys & Girls Clubs, where she led donor engagement, expanded funding pipelines, and drove measurable fundraising growth.

As Senior Director of Philanthropic Growth, Donyel leads SBP’s philanthropic strategy and development operations, building and stewarding the funder relationships and grant portfolio that fuel SBP’s national impact. She partners closely with the CEO and senior leadership to identify, cultivate, and secure the resources that allow SBP’s network of elected school board leaders to govern with courage, competence, and impact across the country.

Donyel’s expertise spans donor engagement, strategic storytelling, capital campaigns, major gift strategy, and data-driven fundraising. She brings a sophisticated understanding of how to build compelling cases for support that inspire long-term investment in equity-focused work. She holds a Master of Public Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and serves on the Global Diversity and Women’s Impact Committee for the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP). She has been honored with the Women of Distinction Award and Leadership Chattanooga, and recognized as a Top 20 Under 40 Professional for her leadership in the nonprofit sector.