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Alisa Adams

Impact Lead | Founder & Executive Director | Passionate about Equality, Justice and Social Change

Harare, Zimbabwe

About

Change begins with people, their stories, their resilience, and their ideas. That belief has guided a journey from studying Politics to working hands-on in the NGO space, where community and collaboration drive every project forward. At present, serving as Impact Lead at Kwanda means shaping strategy across a portfolio of community-led initiatives in Africa, the Caribbean and the diaspora. The role combines rigorous impact measurement with something less tangible but equally vital: trust-building with grassroots leaders, supporting them to grow their visions into lasting change. This commitment also comes alive through the Future Wings Foundation (FWF), a nonprofit I founded dedicated to reshaping education in Zimbabwe. We support schoolchildren in Zimbabwe by removing the barriers that strip dignity from learning. Through dignity kits, safe learning spaces, and community partnerships, we create environments where students feel prepared, respected, and able to thrive. Across these roles, the focus has been consistent: effective NGO management, strategic partnerships, and program design that translates resources into opportunity. More than processes and frameworks, it's about enabling others to thrive. This goal is simple but urgent.

Skills

Impact EvaluationImpact InvestingNon-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)Project PlanningProject ManagementPersonal BrandingPrompt Engineering for Generative AIFundraisingPartnerships ManagementProgram ManagementStakeholder EngagementBudget ManagementRisk MitigationTeam LeadershipStrategic PlanningCommunity EngagementGrant Writing

Experience

Impact Lead

Kwanda - Remote

Leading impact strategy across Kwanda's portfolio of community-led projects in Africa and the diaspora. • Vet and select high-potential project partners aligned with Kwanda's mission and values. • Define clear, measurable impact metrics for each funded initiative. • Track and evaluate project progress using reporting frameworks, partner feedback, and internal systems. • Maintain active relationships with project leads, offering support, accountability, and collaboration. • Collaborate with the Comms and Growth teams to translate outcomes into public-facing stories and campaigns. • Publish clear, compelling impact reports and updates for Kwanda members, stakeholders, and funders. • Spot patterns, lessons, and opportunities across the portfolio to inform overall funding strategy. • Maintain accurate documentation of project agreements, reports, and outcomes in systems like Airtable and Notion. • Set up tools and lightweight processes to simplify partner check-ins, feedback loops, and internal knowledge sharing.

2025-07 - Present

Founder and Executive Director

Future Wings Foundation - Harare, Harare, Zimbabwe

As the sole founder and Executive Director of Future Wings Foundation, I lead all aspects of our mission to empower Zimbabwe's next generation through accessible and impactful education. This role reflects my deep commitment to creating opportunities for underserved children and my passion for transforming education into a tool for breaking cycles of poverty. • Fundraising & Resource Mobilization: Designing and implementing campaigns to secure resources for providing school supplies, transport, and improved facilities to underfunded schools and orphanages. • Community Engagement: Building strong relationships with schools, local communities, and stakeholders to identify needs and drive impactful solutions. • Program Development: Developing and overseeing educational programs that address barriers to learning while creating opportunities for students to thrive. • Operations Management: Managing the daily operations of the NGO, including strategic planning, budgeting, and coordinating logistics to ensure efficiency and sustainability. • Strategic Vision: Setting the foundation's long-term goals and laying the groundwork for its growth into an organization that makes a vast and lasting impact across Zimbabwe.

2024-08 - Present

Fundraising and Partnerships Manager

Uncommon.org - Harare, Zimbabwe

I am responsible for designing and executing Uncommon's Zimbabwean fundraising strategy, with the ultimate goal of achieving financial sustainability. I work to build and cultivate relationships with donors, corporate partners, and stakeholders to drive our next phase of growth. Key aspects of my role include developing a comprehensive fundraising strategy, managing grant writing and reporting, organizing events, and ensuring effective donor communication and recognition. With a strong focus on innovation, relationship-building, and impact, I lead efforts to secure the resources needed to expand Uncommon's mission of providing free tech education to underprivileged young people in Zimbabwe.

2025-01 - 2025-07

Programs Manager

Uncommon.org - Harare, Zimbabwe

As the Programs Manager at Uncommon, I orchestrate the planning and execution of all internal and external programs with a commitment to excellence. I specialize in stakeholder engagement to ensure program alignment with organizational goals and stakeholder satisfaction. My role demands strong organizational prowess and effective communication skills to drive program success and foster meaningful collaborations. • Lead strategic planning and implementation of Uncommon's core programs and new initiatives. • Act as primary interface for stakeholders, ensuring clear communication and alignment of program objectives. • Manage program budgets and mitigate risks to optimize organizational outcomes. • Coordinate and lead all project teams (usually supervising around six people per program).

2024-01 - 2025-01

Project Consultant

blackbear | We're hiring - Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands

As a Project Consultant at Blackbear, I played a pivotal role in ensuring the smooth and efficient execution of company projects. My responsibilities included managing all aspects of client interactions and supervising teams of up to five members for each project. I provided consulting services across a diverse range of fields, including IT, business development, corporate strategy, market research, and sustainability initiatives. • Overseeing project deadlines to ensure timely completion • Setting and managing project budgets to maintain financial control • Prioritizing tasks within projects to optimize workflow • Leading project teams to drive progress and achieve objectives • Addressing and resolving uncertainties and challenges within projects • Managing stakeholder relationships to align project outcomes with expectations

2022-07 - 2023-04

Sales Development Representative

blackbear | We're hiring - Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands

2022-04 - 2022-07

Talent Acquisition

KraftHeinz - Amsterdam-Zuid, North Holland, Netherlands

2021-08 - 2022-01

Education

Leiden University

Master of Science - MS in Political Science and Government

2021 - 2022

University College Roosevelt

Bachelor of Arts - BA in Politics and Law

2018-08 - 2021-06