My Story
Nonprofit Strategist, Philanthropic Leader: Champion of Equity and
Community Impact
Derria L. Ford is a seasoned nonprofit leader, strategist, and storyteller with nearly two decades of experience driving equity and opportunity through philanthropy and nonprofit Leadership. She has successfully led fundraising, donor engagement, volunteer programs, and marketing strategies for organizations such as Middle Tennessee State University, Meharry Medical College, Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands, and the Martha O’Bryan Center. Through both staff and consulting roles, she has raised millions in philanthropic support and expanded corporate and community partnerships.
A dynamic speaker and advocate for ethical storytelling and strengths-based leadership, Derria has presented at national conferences including AFP ICON, AFP LEAD, the OneCause Fundraising Conference, and Equal Justice University. In 2024, she was recognized as the Young Professional of the Year by MTSU’s Jones College of Business.
She holds a Doctorate in Leadership and a Master of Business Administration. Outside of work, Derria enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, attending concerts, and seeking out joyful, creative experiences.
Voices of Trust
Amia Butler
Senior Development Officer
Meharry Medical College
Derria is a phenomenal fundraiser and visionary leader who understands the power of ethical storytelling in fundraising. Her guidance has shaped the why I approach donor engagement, ensuring stories are told with dignity and impact. She is not only an expert in her field but also a mentor who uplifts and empowers those around her. Any organization or professional looking to deepen their storytelling and fundraising approach would be lucky to learn from her.
Barbara Gunn Lartey
Program Director
St. Louis Peacebuilding, American Friends Service Committee
Derria is a visionary strategist and trusted thought partner whose insight and guidance have been instrumental to my leadership and to the evolution of our community-centered work in St. Louis and beyond. Her approach to ethical storytelling and values-driven engagement helped shape the foundation of our most successful initiatives to date—starting with a transformative community survey and focus group model that now anchors our program’s impact strategy.
DarKenya Waller
Executive Director
Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberland
Derria brings an exceptional blend of strategic insight and hands-on leadership that transformed and advanced our development efforts. Her ability to craft compelling fundraising strategies and steward major donor relationships has significantly increased our revenue and expanded our impact. She is equally skilled in marketing, consistently elevating our brand and messaging to resonate with diverse audiences. Derria is a visionary leader whose work strengthens both our internal team and our external presence.
Paige Bainbridge
Vice President of Development
Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee, Inc.
Derria's presentation to our Nashville AFP Chapter on Ethical Storytelling was a home-run. Derria is an engaging speaker who has a wealth of expertise to back her up. I think it's her authenticity, passion, and empathy that make her the special and dynamic speaker that she is -- you can't fake that and it comes from her heart. I am fortunate to get to work with Derria on the AFP board, and I am so honored that she is my peer in the world of nonprofit development. The sky is the limit for what she can do!
Advancing Ethical Storytelling & Leadership
Through speaking engagements, panel discussions, and conferences, Derria has been at the forefront of promoting ethical storytelling, inclusive leadership, and strengths-based strategies in fundraising and nonprofit spaces. From national conferences to virtual panels, her contributions emphasize authenticity, dignity, and equity in narrative-building.
Engaging
Transformative
Actionable
Book A Workshop with Derria
Derria’s workshops go beyond theory—they provide practical strategies and actionable takeaways that participants can immediately apply to their work and personal growth. Whether facilitating sessions for corporate teams, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, or community groups, Derria fosters an inclusive environment that encourages collaboration, innovation, and impact.
Stay Connected
Bring authenticity, expertise, and impact to your event with Derria’s dynamic keynotes, panels, and workshops. Whether for a nonprofit conference, corporate retreat, university event, or leadership summit, she delivers actionable insights that inspire real change.
Stay Connected and Book Derria Today!