Falona Joy is a senior advisor at Arabella, where she works with foundations, corporations, and families to design, launch, advance, and assess ambitious philanthropic initiatives. Falona channels her passion for social justice into supporting philanthropy that drives a wide range of innovative partnerships and projects. Recent examples include developing a strategy for a unique public-private partnership, the Millennium Park Foundation, and providing strategic facilitation and evaluation support to new pilot initiatives with the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.
Prior to joining Arabella, Falona founded SNP Strategies, a consulting practice designed to build the vitality of nonprofit institutions, support philanthropy to measure impact, and increase the ability of nonprofit leaders to achieve their missions and visions. In this role, she has guided organizations of all sizes through the challenges of raising capital, ensuring organizational relevance, developing strategies to sustain impact, and realizing the potential of new initiatives. Falona is also an impact investor and advisor to startup social enterprises.
Falona began her career with the National Park Foundation, where she was the founding executive director of the African American Experience Fund. She continues to have a passion for parks, public lands, and conservation initiatives. She serves as the founding garden leader for the 42nd Street Garden in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood.
Falona also serves as a life trustee of the Chicago History Museum, was an officer and board member of the Illinois Humanities Council from 2006 to 2015, and was named a Chicago Cultural Champion by the Chicago Cultural Alliance. Falona is a certified fundraising executive (CFRE). She received her BA with honors from Stanford University.