Koya | Diversified Search Group partnered with The Wilderness Society on the appointment of April M. Yi as Deputy VP for Field Programs.
Since 1935, The Wilderness Society has led the effort to permanently protect 109 million acres of wilderness in 44 states. With a mission to unite people to protect America’s wild places, the organization has been at the forefront of nearly every major public lands victory.
April has over 19 years of experience in the nonprofit field, working closely with organizations on business development and strategic planning, fundraising, and nonprofit management, and funder and board engagement.
She has worked with numerous academic, healthcare, environmental, and youth-centered organizations on the design and implementation of business strategies and funding models that support sustainability and healthy growth.
Working collaboratively with large and small teams, April developed and led projects from start-up, full implementation, to scale-up. As an enterprise leader, she developed and cultivated staff, created and implemented fundraising strategies, designed and analyzed SWOT research, formulated competitive market analysis, and evaluated outcomes to determine next steps. She has a deep passion for work that directly supports marginalized communities and engages stakeholders in meaningful stewardship that leads to long-term impact and partnership.
As a Justice, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (J-DEI) facilitator, April has worked closely with organizations and agencies on the development and implementation of J-DEI strategies that support their framework including group trainings and ongoing support as well as tailored resources.
April has led the recruitment and orientation of new leadership and volunteer engagement – establishing communication and CRM systems to support growth and development. She enjoys thinking broadly and applying operational processes and systems that support the diverse landscape of organizations.
April is a graduate of Notre Dame of Maryland University and earned her Masters from Johns Hopkins University.