Shai James-Boyd, CFRE, is a passionate nonprofit professional dedicated to strengthening communities through fundraising and relationship building.  For more than 20 years she has used her skills to advance the fundraising profession. Currently, she serves as Assistant Director of Development for Henry Ford College Foundation, where she oversees all aspects of fund development and alumni relations. Committed to advancing her profession, Shai regularly presents on fundraising and philanthropy topics. She serves on the District V Conference Planning Committee for the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) and is a past board member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals Greater Detroit Chapter. Shai also supports other aspiring female leaders as an institutional representative for the Michigan American Council on Education (ACE) Women’s Network.

Shai’s creativity and joyful enthusiasm make her a natural leader. She has honed her leadership skills through several professional development programs. Most recently, she completed the Greater Good Nonprofit Leadership Program at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, a competitive national program sponsored by the Allstate Foundation. Shai is also a graduate of Leadership Detroit, Detroit Executive Leadership Circle, and the Michigan Nonprofit Association’s Emerging Leaders in the Nonprofit Sector program. Currently, Shai attends Ferris State University where she is pursuing a Doctorate in Community College Leadership.

Shai is a former board member for Teen HYPE (Helping Youth by Providing Education) and immediate past president of the Project 22 Foundation, where she created innovative fundraising programs to support scholarships for area youth. She is the former chair of the Delta Gems high school mentoring program, a lifelong mentor to her Little from the Big Brother Big Sisters program, and a volunteer mentor at Cornerstone Schools. In addition, she currently serves as board chair of the New Joy Outreach Community Center and a board member of the University of Michigan-Dearborn African American Alumni Affiliate.

She received a Master of Public Administration from the University of Michigan-Dearborn and a bachelor’s degree in public relations and marketing from Wayne State University. She is a proud Diamond Life member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She currently lives in Southfield, MI with her husband Wilson Boyd.