ToQuyen Doan joins WEA as Director of Philanthropic Partnerships
WEA is thrilled to welcome ToQuyen Doan as our Director of Philanthropic Partnerships. ToQuyen, who joins us from her most recent position as Development Director, Grants and Donor Engagement with RAINN, is stepping into this newly designed role where she'll co-design, implement, and steward a robust development strategy that will honor current philanthropic relationships while simultaneously supporting WEA as we embark on a tremendous season of growth.
"ToQuyen brings not only her passion for supporting and caring for our communities and the earth, which aligns so perfectly with WEA's values," said WEA Co-Director Kahea Pacheco, "she also offers such a thoughtful and relationship-centered approach to fundraising. She recognizes that everyone—no matter what form or amount your gift takes—has a role to play in this work and movement. We can, and must, all make an impact."
Please meet and help us welcome ToQuyen to the WEA family!
"I’m a firm believer that we are always stronger as a collective, and if given the privilege and opportunity, it’s essential to amplify and support one another. Climate change and environmental destruction impact all of us, but not always in the same ways. These interconnected crises don't fit into neat categories and silos. WEA’s 16-year legacy of working at the intersection of women’s rights and the environment centers around partnering with leaders to support and amplify community-based solutions. This philosophy aligns with my own values of empowering community leadership through critical thinking, collaboration, and responsible engagement.
I became an accidental fundraiser ten years ago in the Peace Corps in Armenia. It was there that I saw that grassroots communities understood better than anyone their collective needs and what impacts look like for their friends, families, and neighbors. Yet while the solutions were there, access to resources or support to implement those solutions were often lacking. That's when I began to see my role as a bridge-builder—someone who could facilitate, translate and transform community-led ideas into resources.
After months spent collaborating closely with members from the community I served in, we applied for a USAID grant and were funded. That experience crystalized my calling.
Over the last decade, I've had the privilege of honing a robust fundraising and development "toolkit", and have had the opportunity to engage in efforts aimed at supporting our changing world. There are countless community-designed projects and solutions that exist to challenge, mitigate, and address the many injustices in our society. Likewise, there are many values-aligned and purpose-driven individuals, institutions, and companies excited to support these innovative solutions and just don't know that they are out there. I'm deeply passionate about making these connections and seeing the change that's possible when we all come together.
As communities worldwide continue to face social and economic injustices and compounding environmental and climate threats, I'm honored to serve as a bridge-builder, showing up with creativity, excitement and open arms in spaces, events, and inboxes to amplify the fantastic work of my colleagues worldwide."
ToQuyen received her BA in Environmental Studies and MA in International Development and Social Change. We're excited to partner with her in the coming years to grow and strengthen WEA’s organizational capacity in ways that honor the leadership, creativity, and boldness of grassroots women near and far.