Whitney Meilan Yang

Experience

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  Shanghai Roots & Shoots

  Jun 2010 - Jun 2011

  Project Coordinator

  - Coordinated all fundraising efforts including "Friends of Jane Gala" during Dr. Jane Goodall's 2010 visit to China.- Cultivated and maintained relationships with individual donors, corporate and school partners.- Raised 5.5 million RMB (~900,000 USD) in one year through corporate sponsorships, international school sponsorships, events, and sales to individuals.- Organized volunteer groups on the ground in Inner Mongolia during annual planting trip.- Successfully completed two international grant applications: PING Matching Grant (22,000 USD) and eBay Foundation grant (21,000 USD). Show less

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  Epic Adventures Languages

  Jan 2011 - Mar 2013

  Social Media & Marketing Manager

  - Wrote all educational “Culture Notes” published in the workbook for Epic Adventures of Princess Moonface Chinese Mandarin learning kits.- Developed and managed all social media marketing content for Twitter, Facebook, and blog.- Marketing and outreach to schools, garnering interest in the product.- Oversaw production of the kits and website.

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  Octave

  Jun 2013 - Sept 2014

  Marketing & Programming Associate

  - Coordinated programming for the company’s launch project, a health education and lifestyle centre, the Octave Living Room.- Sourced, recruited, and developed database of instructors/practitioners for all programming areas.- Assisted Program Director and PR/Marketing Directors in development of marketing strategy, branding/culture copy, membership plans, internal newsletters, program scheduling, program research and development.- Internal company culture training and implementation.

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  Kleine Orchidee - Holistic Meditation, Yoga & Giving

  Sept 2015 - Apr 2016

  Instructor

  - Sought out opportunities for volunteerism.- Creation of online and print advertising and outreach.- Instructed beginner students in yoga, meditation, and pranayama practice.- Led volunteer initiatives and encouraged community participation.

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  Animals Asia

  Apr 2016 - Jun 2017

  Development Executive

  - Developed major giving income streams with corporates, trust and grants as well as major donors.- Developed strategic partnerships with a range of companies to deliver both a financial and strategic contribution to the charity. - Wrote creative fundraising material to support trust applications and major donor/corporate pitches to secure funding. - Planned and executed 300+ attendee fundraising gala event.- Set and managed budget and fundraising target for China market.

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  Arizona State University

  Aug 2018 - May 2019

  Carstens Research Aide

  - Proofread and edited academic manuscript for Associate Professor on the topic of gender violence and democracy (Oxford University Press)- Research and administrative assistance to Associate Professor

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  US Human Rights Network

  Feb 2019 - Aug 2020

  - Create and implement overall communications strategy for the organization - Social media content ideation and supervision of social media manager - Coordination and dissemination of monthly newsletters and daily E-blasts- Draft Network Responses to human rights violations occurring in the US- Draft formal communications and complaints to United Nations Human Rights bodies- Develop working mechanisms and protocols with program staff to streamline communications and create new content- Create and implement communications strategy and content for events, convenings, webinars, human rights news, conferences, etc.- Design, implement, and maintain various websites Show less

  • Chief of Strategy and Programming

    Dec 2019 - Aug 2020

  • Communications Director

    Feb 2019 - Dec 2019
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  Mixed Change

  Aug 2020 - Dec 2023

  Founder & Director

  Mixed Change is a boutique communications consulting business focused on creating human-centered brand messaging and content for non-profit and social justice organizations. Mixed Change uses storytelling and strives to always center the voices of women, people of color, LGBTQIA+ people, and people directly impacted by human rights abuses. We are a woman-owned business based out of Phoenix, AZ (ancestral lands of the Akimel O'odham tribe), though our team and clients are located across the country, from New York to Florida and back to Arizona. We work with non-profit organizations and socially-minded businesses on communications campaigns, development, and growth. Mixed Change strives to be your thought partner, bringing a wide breadth of knowledge and skill that makes collaboration effortless.www.wearemixed.org Show less

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  The Bambi Fund

  Dec 2022 - now

  Executive Director

  Whitney Meilan is a Co-Founder & Executive Director of The Bambi Fund, a fiscally sponsored project of TAPAZ with a mission to provide funded opportunities for learning, growing, and exploration. We support current and budding projects, social enterprises, and nonprofit groups led by people from historically excluded communities, especially people of color and LGBTQ+ people. Our vision is a world where people from historically excluded communities have the resources to fully realize their dreams and determine their own life paths.Currently The Bambi Fund is focused on developing and implementing an entrepreneurship-based re-entry program that will be a safe landing pad for returning community members, providing access to economic opportunities through our cooperative of formerly incarcerated owned member-businesses. www.thebambifund.org Show less

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  AZ AANHPI For Equity

  Aug 2023 - now

  Director of Culture & Development

  Whitney Meilan works closely with AZ AANHPI for Equity's Executive Director and Operations team to envision, develop, and implement a human-centered culture at the organization by creating new opportunities for team building and capacity building, providing input on policies and procedures, offering strategic planning on organizational structure and workflows, and acting as a listener, thought partner, and problem solver for leadership roles across the team. In this Culture role, she develops and facilitates engaging workshops on topics including white oppressorship, non-violent communication, setting boundaries, decolonization, and more, and leads team days with activities like healing circles, nature walks, and educational opportunities in the community.In the Development Director side of this role, Whitney seeks out new funding opportunities, writes grant applications to expand the organization's funder network, develops individual giving streams and campaigns, and forges relationships with new and existing individual and institutional donors. In the coming year these efforts will expand beyond communications campaigns to include in-person and virtual donor stewardship opportunities. Show less