Jonathan Wiesner
Deputy Executive Director, Helping Africa Foundation
Jonathan is the Deputy Executive Director of the Helping Africa Foundation and is a member of the executive team that is working to establish at least one ICT center in each of the 16 regions in Ghana, a project that is known as the Yamoransa Model for Sustainable Development.
Jonathan has served on NFP/NGO boards for the past 25 years with an annual budget up to $1.5 billion, including Chair and Co-Chair roles since 2000. In the non-profit sector he has provided leadership to significantly improve operational efficiencies and helped develop programs to increase fundraising capacity from both individuals and government grants. As a CEO and owner of privately held apparel companies, he has defined strategies for diversified product portfolios, global sourcing, efficient internal operations, and created an enterprise “mission” to adopt sustainable practices.
Jonathan was CEO and Owner at Sustainable Apparel Group, LLC in his most recent private sector role from 2008 to the sale of the company in June 2017. At this fashion lifestyle brand, pioneered the design and manufacturing of products utilising sustainable materials and a production process that recycled 80% of the wastewater. He built a dynamic and growing web based direct to consumer business with a variety of marketing strategies.
In his Board role at the International Rescue Committee, he has served as Co-Chairman, Board of Directors. Jonathan helped direct growth of the annual budget from $70 million in 1995 to $1.5 billion in 2022, increased the professionalization of the organization by committing to infrastructure and implementing systems to measure impact, and built a digital platform to increase online contributions.
As Chairman, Board of Directors at the Westchester Land Trust in Bedford, NY he helped expand the number of protected acres from 4,600 to just over 8,000 acres. At the NY Region Trust for Public Land, he currently serves as Chairman of the Board, and has managed a process of diversifying the Board and developing and implementing a Strategic Plan.
Jonathan received his B.A. degree from Dartmouth College.
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