Philanthropy executive Jonathan Sandville has joined The African American Board Leadership Institute (AABLI) as its new president and CEO, replacing recently retired co-founder Yvette Chappell-Ingram, the organization’s first president and CEO.
A results-oriented leader with two decades of experience in the philanthropic arena and a strong track record in developing corporate partnerships, Sandville previously managed a $15 million grant-making portfolio at the Ford Foundation and served as executive director of the Educational and Scholarship Fund at the City University of New York (CUNY). His background also includes development leadership at the National Urban League and Liberty Science Center, where he served as a vice president. Sandville held chief development officer roles at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and at GLAAD.
“We are thrilled to welcome Jonathan into the AABLI family,” said Virgil Roberts, co-founder and chair of AABLI’s board of directors. “His ability to leverage venture philanthropy and structure
opportunities that blend public, philanthropic and private support makes him a great fit for AABLI as it enters the next phase of its growth.” Roberts said the organization is expanding to a national level its work providing solutions and training opportunities for corporations, grant makers, nonprofit organizations, individuals and government entities committed to diversity, equity and inclusion.
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“We applaud California Assemblymember Chris Holden for co-creating landmark legislation, signed into law, to greatly strengthen diversity in corporate boardrooms throughout our state,” said Sandville, referencing Assembly Bill 979. AABLI’s decade of experience in board leadership, training, development and placement positions it well, he said, to increase the numbers of qualified African Americans on corporate and nonprofit boards, and on government commissions. “I am honored to lead AABLI into our second decade of service,” Sandville said. “We actively support the new law and look forward to helping realize its intent: board diversity for all of the state’s public corporations, and the presence of clear, vigorous and informed voices representing all elements of the communities they serve.”
The mission of the African American Board Leadership Institute is to strengthen nonprofit, public and private organizations through recruiting, preparing and assisting with the placement of African Americans on a broad range of governing boards. AABLI has trained more than 770 program participants and placed more than 250 on nonprofit boards, corporate boards, and commissions.
