Yolonda C. Richardson (Board Secretary)
Executive Vice President, Global Programs
Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
Washington, DC
Yolonda C. Richardson is currently the Executive Vice President of Global Programs for the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, where she oversees the Campaign’s international program focused on reducing global tobacco consumption in middle and low income countries. A key partner under the Bloomberg Global Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use, the Campaign supports the efforts of countries to implement effective tobacco control policies that are consistent with global standards and best practices. Prior to joining the Campaign, Ms. Richardson served as the President and Founder of Richardson Consulting, a managing consulting firm specialized in providing senior level strategic support and expertise to nonprofit organizations, foundations, corporate philanthropies, and global development agencies. She has consulted with and for a range of private companies, foundations and nonprofit organizations, including Shell Corporation, Inc., ExxonMobil Corporation, Carnegie Corporation of New York, ELMA Philanthropies, Leon H. Sullivan Foundation, LTL Strategies, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur and Ford Foundations.
Formerly, Ms. Richardson served as President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Centre for Development and Population Activities (CEDPA). Founded in 1975, CEDPA seeks to advance women's rights and expand their access to health and other services through partnerships with more than 150 organizations in 40 countries. As President and CEO, she provided overall leadership and strategic direction for the organization. In addition, she led the organization’s fundraising and new business development efforts, successfully increased the number and scope of private sector partnerships, and raised the visibility of the organization and its issues in the United States and abroad.
She has also served as Special Counsel for the African Development Foundation, a government-funded granting agency that provides financial support to African non-governmental organizations and small businesses to enhance the participation of the poor in the development of their countries. As Senior Vice President of Africare, she oversaw program design, implementation and evaluation of more than 150 rural development projects throughout Africa focused on community health, agriculture, and democracy and governance. She also served as in-house link with external legal counsel on issues of trademark, copyright, employment, and contracting issues.
Prior to joining Africare, Ms. Richardson spent ten years at the Carnegie Corporation of New York, a global foundation, where she managed an international grant program focused on improving women’s health and programs and promoting improved democracy and governance. Her work at the foundation included support to women’s groups and leaders throughout Africa as well as to an operations research network in West Africa to address the high rates of maternal mortality. Additional support helped to build the women’s movement in South Africa and to address educational access for girls.
Ms. Richardson is a recognized expert on gender and international development, global health, U.S. philanthropy and Corporate Social Responsibility. She speaks and lectures regularly on international development issues and has appeared as an expert source in top media outlets, including the Associated Press, Christian Science Monitor, C-SPAN, Knight-Ridder and National Public Radio. She has worked in and traveled to more than 50 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Central and South America. She has served on the boards of several national and international organizations. Having practiced as a corporate attorney at the Wall Street law firm, Cahill Gordon & Reindel, Ms. Richardson continues to be a member of the New York Bar. She is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Ms. Richardson holds a Masters Degree in Public Health from Columbia University and a Juris Doctorate from Yale University School of Law. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree, summa cum laude, from Dillard University in New Orleans.