Debrah Giles
What is your industry or area of expertise?
My industry is philanthropy, and my expertise is youth development and cultural arts. I’m a program director at East Bay Community Foundation, where I lead our strategy around racial justice and equity, centering cultural arts.
Why do you believe in the mission of BlackFemaleProject?
I’ve been in this industry for over 25 years, and before BlackFemaleProject, no one had ever inquired about my story. And when I sat down to do the interview with Precious, it felt reaffirming. It felt like I wasn't by myself, I wasn't alone, and I wasn't unique. And to have that experience is almost indescribable.
What brought you to BlackFemaleProject?
I felt honored. When we were working on the strategic plan, I was sitting there listening to the other women in the room, and thought, “I’m a part of this.” The commitment and the talent that they possess and bring to this work–not because they’re getting paid to, but because they get the importance of it and they want to be here–it’s an honor to be one of them.
How has BlackFemaleProject impacted you personally?
Every time I think about that initial interview—it was very validating and very empowering. If any one woman who is a part of this organization feels even just a little of that…I can’t tell you what that means. She created this space and platform for us.
What motivated you to become an advisor to BlackFemaleProject?
Initially I wanted to do programs, but I ended up doing development because I'm reading proposals and working with funders. And that’s because of the networking and history I have with colleagues in philanthropy. Also, I love Precious; there’s something genuinely special about her. She can ask anything of me. Period. And even if I tell her, “no,” I'm still going to do it.
What BlackFemaleProject content or offering have you found most resonant?
I like the initiative around educators, Teacher Truth. That is just so powerful, not just to tell the story, but to hear the story in educators’ own words—to capture that, to create the platform for that. It still boggles me sometimes when our experiences are so shared yet we feel so far apart. The shared experience, the lived experiences, the stuff that you don’t have to define for me, that i get—that is the throughline in everything that BlackFemaleProject does.
Bio:
Debrah Giles is a philanthropic and nonprofit management professional who serves as a Program Director for the East Bay Community Foundation in Oakland, CA. She specializes in supporting initiatives within EBCF that foster education, youth development, and arts and culture. She leads the foundation’s program strategy and grantmaking focused on arts and culture for social and racial justice, serves as the Senior Program Officer for the Clorox Company Foundation’s Responsive Grantmaking Program, and continues to lead the work that focuses on boys and men of color.
Before joining the East Bay Community Foundation, for nearly 15 years, Debrah worked for Sun Microsystems in their Global Community Development Group (Foundation). At Sun Microsystems, she managed all aspects of national and regional grant-making programs and developed strategies to improve grant-making procedures. During her tenure with Sun, she also developed and guided major funding programs, including their international disaster relief program, multi-year educational grants, and global gift matching programs.
Debrah received her bachelor’s degree in Business Management from St. Mary’s College. She is a native of Oakland.
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