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Donna McKay

Donna McKay

Donna McKay joined Physicians for Human Rights as Executive Director in February 2012.

A committed human rights activist, Donna brings more than 20 years of international and domestic nonprofit experience to PHR.Most recently, she served for nearly a decade as the Director of Institutional Advancement and Special Projects at the American Civil Liberties Union. In this senior executive position, she played a critical role in transforming the organization as it responded to the erosion of US civil liberties in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks.

During Donna’s tenure, the ACLU’s budget tripled, the size of the headquarters staff doubled, and the organization’s assets more than tripled, propelling the ACLU to number 160 of the Chronicle of Philanthropy’s Largest Non-profits.
 
While at the ACLU Donna designed and led “Leading Freedom Forward,” a national campaign to significantly expand the ACLU’s presence in the South and Midwest regions. She worked with a nationwide team of staff and volunteers who raised over $400 million for this special initiative. She also co-founded and helped manage an International Civil Liberties Network, comprised of some of the world’s most esteemed civil liberties groups.
 
Prior to the ACLU, Ms. McKay served as Vice President for Development at the US Fund for UNICEF and chaired the Campaign to Eliminate Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus Worldwide. She also helped direct awareness and resources to the worldwide HIV/AIDs pandemic.

Previously, as a Director and Senior Program Officer at Planned Parenthood New York, she developed sexual and reproductive health and rights programs in Malawi, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Zambia.
 
Ms. McKay holds an MS in Non Profit Management and Urban Policy from the New School for Social Research.