Halima Leak Francis

For more than 15 years, Halima has been a charitable giving professional whose experience includes higher education and grass roots non-profits. She has a proven track record in the development of comprehensive and sustainable fundraising programs focused on donor-centered relationships. Her work has resulted in increased funding for the Texas Muslim Women's Foundation by nearly 50 percent during her tenure as chief philanthropy officer and the cultivation of relationships leading to multiple leadership gifts for institutions such as New York University and Barnard College of Columbia University. Halima has also worked for the CUNY School of Professional Studies as the director of Alumni Relations and Development, New York University School of Law, and Communities in Schools of Wake County (North Carolina). Every fall, she serves as a guest lecturer for NYU's George H. Heyman Center for Philanthropy and Fundraising discussing topics related to diversity and charitable giving. As an advocate for charitable giving, Halima expresses the importance and benefits of giving and volunteerism through her Write to Bear Alms initiative which includes her blog and segment on "The Eddie Francis Podcast Show".