Hi! I’m Sonia, and I’m delighted that you want to know about me. I am passionate about helping small nonprofits strengthen their relationships. I like to call this organizational relationship transformation. It is the relationship with yourself and with those affecting your organization. These are donors, board, staff, partners, clients, volunteers, and colleagues. All these relationships are critical for your organization to succeed. When you have strong relationships, both you and your organization are empowered.
For me, authentically creating meaningful relationships with diverse groups of people is not only a professional skill, but a personal one as well. I was born into a multicultural family with parents from two different continents, cultures, religions, and economic backgrounds. My worldly upbringing has taught me to listen, observe, and adapt to new and different experiences and people. In the fast-paced, global and diverse environment of nonprofit management, these are skills I share and employ everyday. Indeed, I have found them to provide critical insight into the assistance and directions I offer to clients.
I started Uplifting Nonprofits to empower small nonprofits to actualize the change they want to see in the world; to benefit society with their passion. Becoming a nonprofit organizational relationship expert leverages over 25 years in corporate relationship management. As a hospitality executive, my strong relationship building skills turned small, unknown hotels into distinguished cultural and profitable gems; and this is the same skill set that small nonprofits need to grow. As Director of Catering and Director of Sales and Marketing, I managed and trained large, complex teams to exceed multi-million dollar sales goals, for which I won several awards. Throughout my hospitality career I was always involved with nonprofits; served on both development committees and Boards of national, regional, and local nonprofits.
Since starting Uplifting Nonprofits, I have been recognized as a nonprofit thought leader and as a Woman in Leadership by the Greater New York Boy Scouts of America for my ability to touch, motivate, and inspire. I have supported nonprofits in standing in their vision by working with them to strengthen their donor base, enhance and diversify their development portfolio, expand their visibility, and most importantly, uplift their organization. The passion to help nonprofits is what led me to create The Nonprofit Café in 2014. It’s a place for nonprofits to gather and share ideas and solutions. To date, it has provided numerous small nonprofits an affordable and safe arena to learn how to grow their organization, create supportive networks with other nonprofits, and made them feel they are not alone. Life is short and the nonprofit world is incredibly challenging so positive solutions and collaborative thinking that ignites and uplifts is critical for organizations to be successful and flourish.
I love being a cheerleader with solutions for nonprofits!!! I am committed to you having the best possible relationships both professionally and personally.