Summary - August 2026 Luncheon

One Fundraising Message Does Not Fit All: Learning to Speak to Diverse Audiences

Are we using language, strategies, and engagement models that reflect how different communities understand generosity, giving, leadership, and impact?

This panel is intended to explore how ethnicity, age, gender, culture, lived experience, and community identity shape the way people connect to nonprofit work and charitable giving. Rather than assuming that one message or one fundraising approach works for everyone, we want to examine how fundraisers can build more authentic relationships with diverse audiences by listening first, understanding cultural context, and adapting our language and strategies accordingly.

The goal is not simply to “reach” different communities, but to better understand how they already give, organize, advocate, and care for one another. By hearing from leaders with different perspectives, we hope to identify practical ways AFP members can become more inclusive, culturally responsive, and effective in their donor engagement, volunteer engagement, board development, and community partnerships.

Moderator:
LaShanda Maze, Chief Development Officer, Project Angel Food

LaShanda Maze is a seasoned nonprofit executive and fundraising strategist with 20 years of experience securing transformative investments to expand programs that strengthen communities and improve lives. She recently joined Project Angel Food as its Chief Development Officer, where she leads the organization’s fundraising strategy and partnerships with individual donors, foundations, corporations, and community leaders to advance its mission of delivering medically tailored meals to people living with critical and chronic illnesses. LaShanda is known for building strong cross-sector partnerships and aligning philanthropic, corporate, and government investments to scale nonprofit impact. She also serves on the board of Association of Fundraising Professionals, Orange County and Innovative Housing Opportunities, where she contributes her expertise in fundraising strategy, brand development, and communications.

Jack Toan, Executive Director, Asian American Museum

Jack Toan serves as the Executive Director of the Asian American Museum at Great Park, where he leads the vision, development, and strategic growth of a groundbreaking cultural institution dedicated to celebrating and advancing Asian American stories. Under his leadership, the museum is being shaped as a dynamic, inclusive space that brings communities together through storytelling, education, and cultural expression. Jack continues to serve in advisory and board roles across the nonprofit and civic sectors. He holds an MBA from the UC Irvine Paul Merage School of Business and is an alumnus of the Southern California Leadership Network.

LaShanda Maze, Chief Development Officer, Project Angel Food

LaShanda Maze is a seasoned nonprofit executive and fundraising strategist with 20 years of experience securing transformative investments to expand programs that strengthen communities and improve lives. She recently joined Project Angel Food as its Chief Development Officer, where she leads the organization’s fundraising strategy and partnerships with individual donors, foundations, corporations, and community leaders to advance its mission of delivering medically tailored meals to people living with critical and chronic illnesses. LaShanda is known for building strong cross-sector partnerships and aligning philanthropic, corporate, and government investments to scale nonprofit impact. She also serves on the board of Association of Fundraising Professionals, Orange County and Innovative Housing Opportunities, where she contributes her expertise in fundraising strategy, brand development, and communications.

Carlos Mejia, Advisor, Orange County Superintendent of Schools
(Previously, Junior Achievement of Orange County)

Carlos Mejia continues to serve the Orange County Community in many capacities. Initially as a Regional Director for Junior Achievement OC, he helped to expand on JA’s strong model of preparing young voices for the marketplace. Carlos embodied the heart of JA by working beside the volunteer workforce to share their experience with students, bringing real-world relevance to the lessons.

He now serves beside Stefan Bean, Superintendent of Orange County Schools, to engage all communities through effective communication, resources, and a strong sense of empathy for the communities they serve.

Sarah R. Sasman
Philanthropic Gift Officer, American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science

With a strong track record of identifying, cultivating, and securing six- to eight-figure gifts, Sarah has successfully led fundraising initiatives for nationally and internationally renowned organizations, building lasting relationships with high-net-worth individuals, family foundations, and philanthropic communities. Sarah excels at positioning scientific research in compelling ways that inspire donor engagement and investment. Passionate about mission-driven work, she specializes in developing strategic campaigns, engaging stakeholders, and driving transformational giving. Whether launching new programs or revitalizing donor networks, Sarah thrives on creating meaningful connections that fuel long-term philanthropic impact.

Keiko Arzouman drives the marketing and events strategy at Orangewood Foundation, bringing over a decade of experience across the nonprofit, tech, and higher education sectors. Driven by a love for philanthropy and volunteering, she focuses on bringing people together through thoughtful branding and crafting high-impact, curated events.

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