About Dwayne Ashley
Dwayne Ashley is a 19 year non-profit and fundraising executive. He is CEO of the nationally recognized Thurgood Marshall College Fund, where he guides the organization to achieve its mission.
Under his leadership, TMCF surpassed $68 million in support raised for scholarships, capacity building and programs, which represents an increase of more than 1700 percent, and 85 percent of the organization’s gross revenues since its founding in 1987.
Mr. Ashley is known for his innovative program development skills that are always tied to measurable outcomes. With a passion for knowledge and positioning the organization to be an expert at its mission, he has spearheaded various studies for TMCF, including the Economic Impact Snapshot of public HBCUs, Scholarship Evaluation Report, Public HBCU Demographic Study, and most recently the 2006 Gender Study “Understanding Gender at Public Historically Black Colleges and Universities.”
Author and Speaker
In 2004, he co-authored the best selling book with noted author and historian, Juan Williams, “I’ll Find A Way or Make One,” which chronicles the history of the nation’s HBCUs. He is also the author of the soon to be released, “Dream Internships! It’s Not Who You Know …It’s What You Know. In addition, he recently completed his third book entitled “Eight Steps to Raising Money-Measuring Your Fundraising Success”. He is currently researching and writing a Special Events, Non Profit Management and Program Evaluation Books.
He is widely published and has authored numerous chapters, articles and opinion-editorials which have been published in newspapers and magazines nationally. He also continues to lead TMCF’s publishing activities, which include books, studies and reports.
Recognized as one the nation’s foremost authorities in education advocacy and non profit management, He is a highly sought speaker and lecturer on fundraising, leadership and non-profit management. He has delivered more than 1,000 speeches throughout his career.
Board Positions, Honors and Recognition
Mr. Ashley currently serves on the board of directors of The Gallup Organization, the New York-based Evidence Dance Company and the Doley Foundation. He was appointed a Commissioner for Historic Preservation Commission by the Mayor of Newark in 2006.
He has served on the board of the National Society of Fundraising Executive (now the American Society of Fundraising Professionals) in Philadelphia and NYC., and recently completed his term as a member of the Newark Public Library Board of Trustees.
Mr. Ashley has been named to Ebony Magazine’s “100 Most Influential Black Americans” list for five consecutive years and is the recipient of an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from the University of the District of Columbia; Distinguished Alumnus Award from Langston University; Positive Image Award from the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity; and numerous other awards and honors. He holds membership in the Association of Black Foundation Executives, and the Council of Foundations; Life Membership in his Fraternity, Phi Beta Sigma Inc.
Career Path
Mr. Ashley is a 19 year fundraising and non profit veteran with more than $100 million being raised throughout his career. He began fundraising as a college student for the United Negro College Fund. Throughout his career, he has worked for United Way of the Texas Gulf Coast, UNCF, 100 Black Men of America. In his sophomore year in college, he served as an LBJ Intern at the Federal Judicial Center in Washington, where he first met the late Associate Justice Thurgood Marshall.
Education
He graduated Cum Laude with a B.S. from Wiley College, Texas. The oldest historically black college in the state of Texas; He earned his master’s degree in Governmental Administration from the University of Pennsylvania’s Fel’s School of Government. He has continued to sharpen his skills with continuing education and earned Executive Certifications from the Indiana School of Philanthropy’s Fundraising Program, and the Texaco Non Profit Executive Leadership Program.
A native of Houston, Texas with strong roots to his family in Louisiana. He resides in New Jersey.
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