Adam Beitman, adam.beitman@sierraclub.org
OAKLAND, CA -- The Sierra Club announced today that it has hired Salena Jegede of Fair Fight Action to serve as Sierra Club's Chief Advancement Officer. In this role, she will oversee fundraising and donor relations for the nation’s largest grassroots environmental organization with nearly four million members and supporters. Jegede becomes the first Black, female Chief Advancement Officer in Sierra Club history.
“Salena is an exceptional leader whose track record of success in nonprofit and political fundraising, executive management, and multiracial coalition organizing in the South and beyond are exactly what our organization needs as we are faced with the interconnected crises of ensuring environmental & racial justice, mitigating the climate crisis, and preserving our democracy,” said Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune. “I am deeply grateful that Salena will lead our team of top notch fundraisers, help foster a broadly inclusive and equity-based culture in everything that we do, and maintain and grow the organization’s annual revenues.”
“While I am sad to be leaving Fair Fight Action, I am thrilled to be joining an essential organization that I have respected my whole life,” said Jegede. “I am fired up to join the fight to protect our planet for the good of all people, and especially for marginalized communities whose environments continue to be polluted. I am energized to work alongside the Sierra Club’s millions of members, volunteers, supporters and staff during this time of deep challenge and opportunity, when fossil fuel corporations continue polluting our air, water and climate and as so many other powerful interests work to suppress the rights of voters and weaken our democracy.”
ABOUT SALENA:
Jegede began her career as a Teach For America (TFA) corps member in West Atlanta. Subsequently, she worked in the education non-profit field by coaching and supporting AmeriCorps members serving in high-need elementary schools across Metro Atlanta, and then led TFA’s Metro Atlanta fundraising efforts with individuals. She married her love for education and public service as the Director of Fellowships with Leadership for Educational Equity before exploring advocacy and public policy work as the Legislative Coordinator for Planned Parenthood Southeast. Before leading fundraising efforts for gubernatorial nominee Stacey Abrams, she served as the Director of Development for AID Atlanta. Most recently, Salena was a founding staff member at Fair Fight Action, serving as Chief Development Officer, then Managing Director.
Salena resides in Metro Atlanta and is originally from the San Francisco Bay Area. She holds a M.A. in political science with credentials in political communication and campaigning from Georgia State University and a B.A. in political science from Spelman College.
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.