“The only reason to give a speech is to change the world.” — JFK

Margot Jordan, photographer

Speaking Engagements

You can schedule me for gatherings to talk about specific or general ideas, perspectives and lessons learned from my work and experiences.

I have presented to dozens of groups and organizations, including corporations, foundations, nonprofits, faith-based congregations and cultural and arts institutions, as well as conferences and creative civic forums such as Pecha Kucha and TEDx.

My speaking style is engaging as I strive to lead audiences to insight while sharing facets of my exploration and discovery of myself, communities and the world. My aim is to ensure that everyone leaves energized, grasping new knowledge and equipped to begin shifting ideas into action.

“I would recommend heartily Valaida Fullwood as a speaker. We had her as our opening keynote speaker at the 2013 North Carolina Statewide Conference for the Nonprofit Sector, Nonprofits Making The Difference. Valaida was a pleasure to work with and understood what our goals were for the conference and its participants. She used her social media channels to help us publicize the offering to staff and board leaders in nonprofits and to build buzz about her session and the conference.” 

Trisha Lester, Vice President, North Carolina Center for Nonprofits      

“A compelling and thought-provoking speaker, Valaida provides an intimate perspective on giving in the African American community. Her presentation is deeply affecting, inspiring both traditional giving and consideration of new points of entry, all the while underscoring the importance of being a change agent in the community.”

Keva Womble, Philanthropic Advisor, Arizona Community Foundation

“In February 2013, BlackGivesBack.com celebrated its 6th anniversary with a live event hosted by JPMorgan in New York City. I selected Valaida to serve as the opening  speaker and moderator for a discussion with philanthropist and author Christina Lewis Halpern. In her introduction, Valaida captured the audience’s attention with rich stories and imagery of African American giving. During the discussion portion, she asked poignant questions to the featured speaker while keeping the audience engaged and closed the event with an original poem, garnering a standing ovation.” 

Tracey Webb, Founder and Publisher, BlackGivesBack.com

Valaida presenting during TEDxCLT 2013, photography by Deborah Triplett

From leading multimedia and interactive workshops to creating experiences for group reflection and learning to participating in panel discussions, public talks and presentations are some of the ways I connect and share with people and organizations. I also take part in interviews for print, broadcast and digital media and a variety of forums.

To extend an invitation for a keynote address, presentation, workshop or media interview, please email valaida[at]vnet.net.


Topics include, but are not limited to, my experiences and perspectives on:

• Collaborating across race, ethnicity and culture
• Collecting stories and developing, publishing and marketing the book Giving Back
• Reframing portraits of philanthropy for a richer picture of generosity and community
• Starting a giving circle and participating in collective giving
• Traveling and exploring the world
• Using storytelling and the arts to inspire social change
• Working in the realms of social innovation, philanthropy, community building, education and the arts
• Writing

Recent speaking engagements and participation in interactive forums:

• Opening Reception for the Portland Exhibition of “The Soul of Philanthropy,” MRG Foundation, Portland, OR
• Anne Arundel Women Giving Together (AAWGT) Women & Leadership Forum: The Emerging Face of 21s Century Philanthropy, Annapolis, MD
• The Giving Back Project: Reframing Portraits of Philanthropy, hosted by West Virginia African American Philanthropy in Action and featuring Pop-Up Abridged Edition of The Soul of Philanthropy, Charleston, WV
• North Carolina State University (NCSU) exhibition opening of The Soul of Philanthropy, Raleigh, NC
• Houston exhibition opening of The Soul of Philanthropy, Houston, TX
• Alpha Ladies Philanthropic Luncheon, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity National Convention, Charlotte, NC
• Denver exhibition opening of The Soul of Philanthropy, Denver, CO
• W.E. Giving Circle “Soul of Columbia” event, featuring the Pop-Up Abridged Edition of The Soul of Philanthropy, Columbia, SC
• COLA Gives Giving Circle Annual Meeting, Columbia, SC
• United Way Women’s Leadership Summit, Dallas, TX
• Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU) Alumni Leadership Academy, Charlotte, NC
• Jack and Jill, Circle City Chapter, Indianapolis, IN
• Lake Institute on Faith & Giving, Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, Indianapolis, IN
• Hartford Foundation For Public Giving, “Celebrating Black Philanthropy: Stories of Inspiration,” Hartford, CT
• Women’s Philanthropy Council 25th Anniversary, University of Wisconsin, Madison
• Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP)-Charlotte Chapter, “We’re Bringing Giving Back” presentation, Charlotte, NC
• Arizona Community Foundation, “Feed Your Soul” luncheon hosted by the Black Philanthropy Initiative, Phoenix, AZ
• Carolina Travel Society, Charlotte, NC
• North Carolina Center for Nonprofits Statewide Conference, Concord, NC
• “Gathering, Growing and Gleaning Vital Resources for Our African American Museum Spaces,” an interactive pre-conference workshop, sponsored by the North Carolina African American Heritage Commission and Association of African American Museums, Charlotte, NC
• Changing The Face of Philanthropy Summit, New York, NY
• Yours, Mine, Ours: Perspectives and Conversations, BEST Project, Flint, MI
• JPMorgan Chase, Black Organization for Leadership Development, New York, NY
• Poor Richard’s Book Shoppe, We’re Bringing ‘Giving Back,’ Charlotte, NC
• TEDxCharlotte, Charlotte, NC
• Shorter Community A.M.E. Church, Denver, CO
• Council on Foundations 2013 Family Philanthropy Conference, San Jose, CA
• 2012 Salzburg Global Seminar, Convening on Gender, Race and Philanthropy, Washington, DC
• The Mint Museum, Romare Bearden Society ‘Giving Back’ Event, Charlotte, NC
• The History Museum of Burke County, Holiday Open House, Morganton, NC
• Temple Beth El, Senior Sage Study Group, Charlotte, NC
• Carolinas HealthCare System (CHS) Giving Campaign Luncheon, Charlotte, NC
• “Power, Politics and Philanthropy” State of the Race Conference, Bay Area Blacks in Philanthropy, San Francisco, CA
• Snyder’s-Lance, Inc. / African American Associate Network, Charlotte, NC
• Philanthropist, Where For ART Thou, 2012 CIN Conference, Birmingham, AL
• Foundation for the African Diaspora, Columbus, OH
• Alliance of Nonprofit Management Conference, Grand Rapids, MI
• WGIV radio interview with BJ Murphy, Charlotte, NC
• “For Us, By Us” dial-in discussion series hosted by CIN and GIFT 
• Black Achievers Gala, YMCA of Northwest North Carolina, Winston-Salem, NC
• The Tavis Smiley Show syndicated public radio interview
• Council on Foundations National Philanthropy Conference, Los Angeles, CA
• The Cleveland Foundation’s African American Philanthropy Summit, Cleveland, OH
• The Denver Foundation, The Links Inc., Blair-Caldwell Library, et al. “Giving Back” Book Event and Reception, Denver, CO
• The Cultural Trust, Development Roundtable & Luncheon, Charlotte, NC
• North Carolina Network of Grantmakers, 2012 Annual Meeting, Greensboro, NC
• South Carolina Association of Nonprofit Organizations (SCANPO), 2012 Annual Conference, Columbia, SC
• 10th Annual Black History Month “Gathering of the People,” Morganton, NC
• Burke Women’s Fund Annual Brunch, Morganton, NC
• Warren County Memorial Library and Heritage Quilters, Book Event, Warrenton, NC
• Mecklenburg County Health Department, Giving Group Luncheon, Charlotte, NC
• National Center for Civil & Human Rights @ Georgia-Pacific Auditorium, Atlanta, GA
• Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture, 2012 MLK Day Celebration, Charlotte, NC
• YWCA Racial Justice Community Forum & Breakfast, Charlotte, NC
• Black Philanthropic Alliance Annual Meeting, Washington, DC
• Park Road Books Talk w/ Charles W. Thomas Jr., Charlotte, NC
• Gaston Chapel AME Church Women’s Ministry, Morganton, NC
• Pan-African Women’s Philanthropy Summit, Minneapolis, MN
• W.K. Kellogg Cultures of Giving Convening, Wilmington, NC
• Women’s Funding Network Global Conference, Brooklyn, NY
• Wine Up Open Mic Night Poetry Reading, Charlotte, NC
• Luck Family Reunion Banquet, Charlotte, NC
• Pecha Kucha Night, Charlotte, NC
• Burke Women’s Fund Luncheon, Valdese, NC
• Council on Foundations Family Philanthropy Conference, San Diego, CA
• Shelton Family Reunion Banquet, Charlotte, NC
• Bethune Women’s Club Annual Banquet, Morganton, NC

Schedule of upcoming Giving Back book events can be found here.