Name, position, organization:

Name- Naquana Borrero, CFRE,

Owner -Bella Vita Consulting Group

Director of Fundraising & Development- Maricopa County Democratic Party

Other professional involvement/accomplishments:

  • Certified Fund Raising Executive licensure
  • Board of Directors- Association of Fundraising Professionals of Greater AZ (AFP)
  • 2014- Social Media Chairwoman
  • 2021- Co Chair, National Philanthropy Day
  • 2022- Chair, Career Services
  • Arizona Squash
  • Board of Directors
  • Greater Phoenix Urban League Young Professionals
  • Member
  • Valley Leadership Class 40
  • African American Leadership Institute 10th Anniversary Cohort/Class
  • Arizona Housing Coalition, Eviction Policy Task Force Member

How long have you been a YNPN Phoenix member?

  • I first joined YNPN when I relocated to Arizona from New York in 2014. I then took a couple of years off as an active member and rejoined in 2018.

Favorite YNPN event or memory?

  • My favorite YNPN event is a tie between State of the Sector, where we get to review the year and discuss our thoughts and projections for the upcoming year, and the Leadership Roundtable where we can hear directly from the various leadership programs available in the Valley.

Favorite new quarantine hobby?

  • I started taking lessons in floral arranging and I love it!

What was it about your organization that made you want to be involved?

  • I started my company in my dorm room and have watched it grow and evolve as my skills and experience have grown. Owning Bella Vita has given me options and autonomy when deciding what positions I would take or leave, including in 2021 when I found myself having an emergency craniotomy for a brain tumor and needing to leave my staff position and take 9 months of recovery. My newest contract with the Maricopa County Democratic Party is giving me the opportunity to work in political fundraising, an area where I have historically not done much consulting in, which is very intriguing to me. In addition, I am excited in 2022 to be joining an additional team that will bring me back to my musical roots ( can’t spill the beans just yet!)

Tell us about one of the most valuable things you’ve learned from working for your organization (or nonprofit orgs in general).

  •  One of the things I’ve learned after 15 years in the sector is that the phrase “people won’t remember what you say, they won’t remember what you did, but they will always remember how you made them feel” is really so relevant in our sector, no matter if we are talking about donors, co-workers or those who we are serving.

What one piece of advice would you offer someone who’s new to the nonprofit industry?

  • I would say to always remember that your role is to be a partner to the community you’re working with, not a savior. Listen to people without judgement and make sure you always have multiple seats at the table for those who have lived experience and/or are community members. They are the best resource for identifying the need and will have a critical role in coming up with impactful solutions.

What do you hope to contribute to YNPN Phoenix as a new board member?

  •  In my new role as Vice President I am hoping to build out our career support systems to make sure we are providing education and training for members in the student, entry-level, mid-level and senior/executive portions of their career, to help to raise the visibility of YNPN in our sector through advocacy, to share my expertise in fundraising and development and finally I hope to continue to push the sector for authentic change in regards to diversity, equity, inclusion, access and justice.