IDEA Fellow Spotlight
The Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access Fellowship (IDEA) is a year-long program for fundraisers from underrepresented communities, including fundraisers of color (African-American, Latinx, Hispanic, Asian), LGBTQ and/or gender nonconforming fundraisers, Indigenous, other underrepresented communities, and emerging fundraisers who work at smaller, under-resourced nonprofits. The program is intended to recruit, retain, and educate diverse nonprofit fundraisers with the intent to increase the number of diverse fundraising/nonprofit professionals in the Bay Area.
Bianca Lewis
Director of Development, Saint Vincent’s Day Home
How did you first get involved in the nonprofit sector? What inspired you to do this work?
I grew up in Oakland, in the same community I now serve professionally. After years in corporate, I found my way into nonprofit work through a deep sense of purpose rooted in where I come from. When the opportunity came to join Saint Vincent’s Day Home, an organization serving young children and families in West Oakland, it felt like a natural alignment of my skills and my values. I am a mother of three, a first-generation college graduate, and a second-generation immigrant, and those identities are inseparable from why this work matters to me.
Please tell us about your current role and responsibilities.
I serve as Director of Development at Saint Vincent’s Day Home, a nonprofit early childhood education and family services center in Oakland that has been in operation for 115 years. I joined in 2022, stepping into a role with no formal development infrastructure and no predecessor to learn from. Without prior fundraising training, I built my knowledge and the department’s systems in tandem, developing strategies across foundation grants, government contracts, individual giving, corporate partnerships, and signature events including our annual golf tournament and brunch. I work closely with our Executive Director and a small, dedicated team to advance the organization’s mission of providing high-quality early care and education to children from low-income families.
What are some highlights in your current role and in your career? What has been the biggest challenge?
A defining highlight has been leading the fundraising effort for our Green Oasis Schoolyard project, a $1.4 million climate-resilient outdoor learning environment that opened in May 2026 with funding anchored by a $750,000 CAL FIRE grant. Watching that space come to life for the children and families we serve was deeply meaningful.
More broadly, building credibility and momentum in a role that came with real uncertainty has been its own kind of accomplishment. I stepped into this position during an organizational transition without an active development department at that point in time, and there was skepticism at the board level about my readiness. Demonstrating results over time and earning trust through consistent follow-through has shaped how I think about leadership.
The biggest ongoing challenge is the tension between the growing need for services and the gap between public funding and the true cost of care. Sustaining multiple fundraising streams simultaneously, while maintaining the kind of personalized donor relationships that actually move the needle, requires constant prioritization and discipline.
What professional knowledge would you impart to other nonprofit fundraisers?
Build your systems before you feel like you need them. The moment a development operation starts to grow is exactly when messy data and undefined processes slow everything down. Investing early in clean records, clear workflows, and documented practices pays forward in ways you cannot always see immediately.
I would also say: your lived experience is a professional asset. The communities we serve are often best understood by people who have navigated similar circumstances. That perspective belongs in the room when strategies are being set, not just when stories are being told.
How did you get involved with AFP?
Through the IDEA Fellowship. My colleague mentioned seeing the opportunity on LinkedIn. I applied as someone early in a formal fundraising career who was ready for structured learning, peer community, and mentorship grounded in equity. AFP Golden Gate offers that, and I am grateful to be part of this cohort.
What advice would you give to others who are considering applying for the IDEA Fellowship?
Apply even if you feel like you are still figuring things out. This fellowship is designed for people who are building. The community aspect is as valuable as any training or workshop.
How do you balance your personal and professional life?
I am a mother of three, which means my time is not always my own, and I have had to get very clear about where my energy goes and why. I have had to get honest about my limits and stop treating rest as something to earn. I have learned to treat boundaries as a skill, not an indulgence. A lot of people, especially women and caregivers in demanding roles, are conditioned to feel like prioritizing rest or family time is selfish or a sign of weakness. When I protect time for my family and for rest, I show up better for the work. That lesson took longer than I would like to admit.
What are some activities you enjoy outside of work?
Outside of work, I love interior design and have a particular affinity for mid-century modern aesthetics; there is something deeply satisfying about creating spaces that feel intentional and warm. I enjoy being in nature with my dogs, exploring new restaurants with my husband, and karaoke nights with friends and family. I also find a lot of meaning in being present with my kids.
What career goals do you still want to pursue or accomplish?
I want to continue growing as a leader who opens doors for others from backgrounds like mine. I want to keep doing work that actually moves the needle for children and families in communities like the one I grew up in.