Equity warrior Strategies
Fighting for Change
Tackling Oppression &
Advancing Social Justice
Company Profile
Equity Warrior Strategies LLC is focused on creating change in the social impact sector. We partner with nonprofit leaders to find the best education and strategies to solve problems at the personal, organizational, and community levels. We accomplish social equity, leadership development, and capacity-building goals through coaching, learning, facilitation, and strategic planning.
Areas of Expertise
Community Engagement and Trust Building
Helping Leaders engage their audiences in authentic and inclusive ways.
- Inclusive Communications
- Engaging New Audiences
- Cultural Humility and Interpersonal Communications
- Power, Privilege and Implicit Bias
- Psychologically Safe Organizations
- Relationship and Team Building
Capacity Building with a Social Work and Racial Justice Lens
Providing management and leadership skills to macro social workers, nonprofit executives, and social justice advocates.
- Nonprofit Management
- Organizational Development
- Resource Mobilization and Fund Development
- Communications and Marketing
- Capacity Building and Strategic Planning
- Board Governance, Fundraising, Planning, and Development
Championing Equity in Fundraising, Communications, and Organizational Development
Transforming education with an inclusion, diversity, equity, and access (IDEA) lens.
- Equity-Focused Mindset
- Fundraising with an Equity Lens
- Creating Inclusive Communications
- Assessing Fundraising and Communications with IDEA Lens
- Transferring Fundraising Skills to Advance Equity
Change Leadership and Management
Activating strengths with leaders to advance change in their organizations, groups, and communities.
- Becoming an Equity Champion
- Change Management and Leadership
- Anti-Oppressive Leadership
- Equity Warrior Framework
- Professional Development
- Leadership Development
Our Services
Leadership Coaching and Professional Development
We activate a leader’s strengths and skills through coaching, professional development planning, and individualized learning.
Group Facilitation, Learning, and Program Design
We work with groups, organizations, and associations to facilitate change, learning, and action planning. This can include customized group training or leadership development programs.
Organizational Consulting, Technical Assistance, Planning, and Training
We help organizations meet their strategic planning, organizational development, and capacity-building goals with assessments, goal setting, action planning, and strategic consulting.
Our Clients
Training Workshops and Education Content Creation
- New York Alliance for Inclusion and Innovation
- The Collaborative of New York
- Center for Nonprofit Leadership at St. John University
- Pennsylvania Advocacy and Resources for Autism and Intellectual Disability
- The Alliance for the Betterment of Citizens with Disabilities
- Durand, Inc.
- National Alliance for Direct Service Professionals (NADSP)
- Arc of Chester County
- Rochester Regional Health Foundations
- Syracuse University
- United Way of Rochester and the Finger Lakes
Presentations
- Association of Fundraising Professionals (ICON, LEAD, & Webinars)
- AFP, Genesee Vally Chapter, AFP, NY Hudson-Mohawk Chapter, & AFP, New York City Chapter
- Association of Talent Development Professionals, Rochester Chapter
- The People’s Nonprofit Accelerator
- Nonprofit Association of Washington
- Illinois Section American Water Works Association
- Greater Rochester Chamber of Conference
- ASAH
- Community Boost
- University of Rochester
- New York State Coalition for Children’s Behavioral Health
- New York State Governor’s LGBTQ+ Conference
- Urban League of Rochester
- AHRC Nassau
- North Carolina Center for Nonprofits
- NetworkPeninsula
Leadership and Coaching Programs
- The National Leadership Consortium on Developmental Disabilities
- University at Albany’s Institute for Nonprofit Leadership and Community Development
Facilitation, Technical Assistance, and Strategic Planning
- Genesee Country Village & Museum
- Monroe County Family Coalition
- Springbrook
About Jonathan
Jonathan Meagher-Zayas (he/him/él) is the Founder & Chief Strategist of Equity Warrior Strategies LLC. He is a Queer Latinx Millennial Nonprofit Leadership strategist dedicated to addressing equity issues, building capacity, engaging the community, motivating impact leaders, and getting stuff done. As the Lead Equity Warrior, he wears many professional hats, including Nonprofit Capacity Building & Community Engagement Strategist, Adjunct Social Work Professor, Diversity Equity & Inclusion Consultant, Leadership Development Trainer, Award-Winning Fundraiser/Resource Mobilizer, Social Sector Coach, and Social Justice Champion.
With 13+ years of professional nonprofit experience, Jonathan has experience in fundraising, communications, volunteer management, program management, leadership development, board governance, community engagement, public affairs, inclusion, diversity, equity, and access work. As an award-winning fundraiser and resource mobilizer, he has raised over $14 million through major gifts, corporate relations, events, foundation philanthropy, government grants, and annual giving initiatives. He is an advanced community engagement and communications strategist with experience leading projects and teams implementing social media, digital communications, community outreach, advocacy, donor stewardship, recruitment, public relations, and marketing campaigns for various nonprofit organizations. He has extensive experience managing leadership development programs and advancing diversity, inclusion, and equity initiatives. He is a global educator and has provided training for hundreds of nonprofit leaders online, at in-person conferences, and through customized workshops.
Over his career, Jonathan has received several accolades including
- 2023 & 2024 Rochester Business Journal's Power List for LGBTQ+ Business Leaders
- 2022 Greater Rochester Chamber IGNITE Award Nominee,
- 2021 honoree on the Hispanic Executive NextGen Collective Inaugural 30 Under 30 Latinx Leaders List,
- 2019 Association of Fundraising Professionals Global Outstanding Young Professional, and
- 2018 Association of Fundraising NY, Hudson-Mohawk Chapter Outstanding Young Professional Fundraiser.
Jonathan embraces a growth mindset and has completed advanced education. He earned his Master of Social Work degree with a MACRO Concentration and his Master of Public Administration degree with concentrations in nonprofit management at the University at Albany, SUNY. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Religion, Linguistics, and Gender Studies from the University of Rochester. He holds two professional certifications: Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) credential and Certified Diversity Professional (CDP). He currently is pursuing a Doctor of Education (EdD) in Learning and Social Contexts at the University at Buffalo, SUNY.
He currently resides in Rochester, NY with his husband, dog, and two cats (all tuxedo animals). He loves spending quality time with his friends and family, traveling and taking adventures, volunteering, cooking, and listening to music and audiobooks.
Affiliations, Memberships & Certifications
Certifications
- Monroe County, NY Certified Minority-Owned Business, 2023
- Certified Fund Raising Executive, 2021
- Certified Diversity Professional, 2023
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace Certificate, 2021
- Certified T.E.A.M. Communication Styles® Facilitator, 2024
Memberships
- Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP)
- Community-Centric Fundraising
- Somos El Poder
- Society for Diversity
- Freelancer’s Union
- Rochester Professional Consultants Network
- Network for Social Work Management
- Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce
Board & Philanthropic Leadership Positions
- AFP Global: Board Member, Former Emerging Leaders Chair, Governance Committee Member
- AFP, Genesee Valley Chapter: IDEA Committee Member
- 540WMain: Board Member
- Rochester Area Community Foundation’s LGBT+ Giving Circle: Membership & Communications Co-Chair
- University of Rochester: Latin Alumni Network, Meliora Collective Mentor, Rochester Network Leadership Council, Volunteer in Partnerships Conference Committee, and LGBTQ+ Network
- Leadership Rochester: 2023 Signature Program Graduate & Volunteer
- United Way of Rochester and Finger Lakes: 2021 Pride Development Leadership Program Graduate
- RACF’s Latino Giving Circle Member and Greater Rochester Latinx Roundtable
- Mission Accomplished Transition Services, Former Board Chair and Member
- AFP, NY Hudson-Mohawk Chapter, Former Chapter President, and Various Leadership Roles
- New Leaders Council, Capital District Chapter, Former Mentorship Chair
Resources
Published Articles, Research Reports, Podcast Interviews, Featured Presentations, and Other Media by Jonathan
- Activating Your Employees’ Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Roles with T.E.A.M. Communication Styles®
- Creating Online Transformative Learning Experiences for Nonprofit Leaders - Self-Published Report
- Jonathan, Having and Being a Mentor - Written by Russ Finklestein and Published in the Washington Post
- Fundraisers as Change Makers - AFP Advancing Philanthropy Magazine
- Navigating One of the Biggest Barriers to Getting People to Care about Social Justice: FEAR - Community-Centric Fundraising
- The Real Reasons Nonprofits Can't Keep Great Staff and 5 Strategies with Equity Outcomes - Community-Centric Fundraising
- The Real Reason Nonprofits Can’t Keep Great Staff with Jonathan Meagher-Zayas - Nonprofit Nation Podcast
- Fundraisers as Change Makers: How Fundraisers are Positioned for Advancing Equity - iWave
- Creating Equity for LGBTQ+ Fundraisers - The Intentional Fundraiser Podcast
- How To Make Your Audience Feel Engaged - Nonprofit Marketing Unplugged
- Nonprofit Board Inclusion RoadMap - Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region
- The Issue of Equity and Ethics: Trust, Support, Culture—An Organization’s Responsibility to Their Fundraisers - AFP Advancing Philanthropy
- REAL Conversations: Intersectionality and LGBTQ Social Justice
- Fundraising Strategies for Start-Up Nonprofits - Passion Wins Magazine
- Fundraising and Social Work
- The Zag Interview: COVID and Philanthropy
- Student Loan Relief Has Changed The Lives Of Millions Of Americans... - BuzzFeed
Our Co-Trainers
Our Philanthropy
Equity Warrior Strategies is committed to creating change in the nonprofit sector not just through consulting services, but also volunteer leadership and philanthropy. While we support as many causes as we can, here are some organizations we are passionate about and encourage others to explore.
Contact and Work with Us!
Equity Warrior Strategies is based on Seneca Nation and Haudenosaunee Confederacy land., commonly known as Rochester, NY. We work all over New York State, the U.S., and Internationally.
We also honor our Taino ancestors originally from the island of Borinken, commonly known as Puerto Rico currently living around the world.
