Kensei H. Phillips is a nonprofit management professional with more than 20 years of progressive leadership and experience in nonprofits, foundations and national associations committed to social change. 

Kensei’s varied background includes working at both the community and national levels, from directing a youth program, to working with local donors to help them maximize philanthropic impact and establish strategic partnerships, to helping share community foundation best practices nation-wide.

As Associate Director at Figure Skating in Harlem, Inc., the sole organization of its kind for girls of color that combines the power of education with access to the artistic discipline of figure skating to build champions in life, Kensei led community outreach for student enrollment, parent fundraising and staff management.

At the Council on Foundations, a nonprofit membership association of grant making foundations and corporations committed to strengthening philanthropy, Kensei managed membership services for community foundation members, content development for educational programs, and initiatives to help promote and advance community foundations. 

As Director of Philanthropic Advisory Services at the Greater Washington Community Foundation, whose mission is to guide strategic philanthropy, provide leadership on critical issues, promote civic engagement, and inspire local giving; Kensei was responsible for a client portfolio of approximately $2 million in grant investments and led donor education and engagement activities, providing donors with opportunities to connect with critical issues throughout the Washington Metropolitan community and ways to create greater impact through their giving.

Kensei now focuses her time managing her family’s real estate investment company and raising her two sons with her husband. She holds a B.A. from Howard University and is the third generation of proud HBCU graduates in her family.