Students Receive “MPNL Award for Black Emerging Fundraising Professionals”
Congratulations to graduate students Niambi Martin-John and Tatenda Nyamande, who both receive this year’s award that promotes Black leadership within the philanthropic and nonprofit sector and is championed by the generosity of the Black Canadian Fundraisers’ Collective.
“This scholarship is deeply meaningful to me, because it represents recognition and belonging within a sector where Black professionals have faced barriers to access mainstream opportunities for further education,” Martin-John says.
“Receiving the Award is both an honour and an affirmation,” Nyamande adds. “It represents more than financial support; it’s a meaningful investment in my leadership and a reminder that the sector is becoming more intentional about creating space for Black professionals. As someone who began my journey in community work in Zimbabwe, this recognition fuels my commitment to advancing equity and inclusion in philanthropy.”
In partnership with Carleton University, the Black Canadian Fundraisers’ Collective offers the “MPNL Award for Black Emerging Fundraising Professionals” to Black students in the MPNL program. With the initiative and support of Nneka Allen and MPNL alumnae Muthoni Kariuki and Holly Bair-Marshall, as well as members of the Collective, the Award was established in 2020 to promote Black leadership within our sector and to make professional education more equitable and inclusive.
“Receiving this scholarship from my peers is a true honour,” Martin-John says. “It validates not only my professional contributions, but also the shared commitment within this community to invest in one another’s learning and leadership.”
Martin-John is Executive Director of the Family Education Centre and is a social change champion, community mobilizer, advocate and fund-development specialist who’s dedicated her career to strengthening capacity for marginalized and at-risk communities through revenue generation, program development and Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) work. She held leadership roles in the health-charity and social-justice sectors for 25 years.
“The MPNL program has challenged me to engage with perspectives and areas of practice that I may not have encountered as deeply through professional experience alone,” she explains. “The cohort model has also been a welcome addition, as it’s created an additional network of practitioners who are experts in their own right. Learning alongside peers with diverse experiences has enriched my academic experience at Carleton.”
Tatenda Nyamande is an accomplished nonprofit leader with extensive experience in philanthropy and community development. Her journey in the nonprofit sector began by supporting vulnerable children at a Zimbabwean orphanage, sparking her lifelong commitment to social justice. She holds a degree in Tourism and Hospitality Management, and has since built a multifaceted career in Canada spanning fund development, donor relations and organizational leadership.
“In the coming years, I hope to continue bridging gaps between donors, organizations and communities, particularly in spaces that serve marginalized groups,” she says. “Long term, I aim to contribute to a more inclusive philanthropic landscape where diverse voices not only have a seat at the table but also help shape the agenda.”
Listen to Nyamanda’s assessment of the MPNL program: