“Working with Elle is an absolute joy! As my supervisor, she makes me feel appreciated and excited for work every day. She stretches me to think creatively, move quickly, and identify growth levers that bring impact to our organization and the communities we serve. Her positive energy goes unmatched by anyone I’ve ever worked with, and I truly feel lucky to work with such an incredible leader. ”
About
Who Am I? Strategist | Catalyst | Convener | Team Builder
My Career…
Services
Activity
-
The conversations we had in San Francisco about BMO U.S.'s future reinforced our belief that growth is most meaningful when it creates opportunities…
The conversations we had in San Francisco about BMO U.S.'s future reinforced our belief that growth is most meaningful when it creates opportunities…
Liked by Eliane Fersan
-
Join me Bay Area Film Night: City Hall Edition for a free celebration of Bay Area storytellers, creativity, and community. This is a fabulous…
Join me Bay Area Film Night: City Hall Edition for a free celebration of Bay Area storytellers, creativity, and community. This is a fabulous…
Liked by Eliane Fersan
-
Powered by lululemon Gives, the Community Wellbeing Grant is our annual application-based grant program that funds community-led charitable…
Powered by lululemon Gives, the Community Wellbeing Grant is our annual application-based grant program that funds community-led charitable…
Liked by Eliane Fersan
Experience
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Education
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Licenses & Certifications
-
Effective Philanthropy for Advisors
Stanford Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society (Stanford PACS)
Issued
Volunteer Experience
-
-
-
-
Board Member, Women in Leadership and Philanthropy
University of San Francisco
- 2 years 1 month
Education
-
Steering Committee Member
Eisenhower Fellowships
- Present 9 years
Education
Member of the Steering Committee, Los Angeles Chapter
-
Chair of the Board of Directors
Lebanon Development Union
- Present 17 years 8 months
Civil Rights and Social Action
Built a coalition of civil society experts to support grassroots organization, women and youth groups.
• Advised women groups on advocacy strategy to campaign for women political participation.
• Provided training and consulting on donor and government relations to cities and non-profits.
• Advised mayors on policy reform and relationship building and agreements with foreign cities.
• Developed Job and income generating programs for disadvantaged communities.
• Supported artists…Built a coalition of civil society experts to support grassroots organization, women and youth groups.
• Advised women groups on advocacy strategy to campaign for women political participation.
• Provided training and consulting on donor and government relations to cities and non-profits.
• Advised mayors on policy reform and relationship building and agreements with foreign cities.
• Developed Job and income generating programs for disadvantaged communities.
• Supported artists and cultural centers, tailored development programs for the creative industry.
• Designed and delivered training sessions on coalition building, strategic planning, networking, media relations and strategies, communication and NGO management and governance.
• Presented talks in 15 countries on women and youth political participation, policy advocacy strategies, human rights, migration, local government governance, communication, coalition building, NGO mobilization and volunteerism, management and government relations (Lebanon, United States, Canada, Jordan, Morocco, Turkey, Spain, Finland, The Netherlands, Austria, Cyprus, Morocco, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and France). -
Co-Director TruDiversity
Truman National Security Project
- 1 year 1 month
Civil Rights and Social Action
Co-Directing the Truman National Security Diversity Network.
-
-
Municipal and Legislative Elections Observer
Lebanese Association for Democratic Elections (LADE)
- 6 months
Civil Rights and Social Action
Monitored the Lebanese municipal and legislative elections in 2005 in the districts of Kesserwan and North Lebanon
-
Protocol Officer, Chief Liaison
Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- 3 years
Politics
Acted as the chief protocol officer for the Bulgarian and the Bahraini delegations during the 2002 Francophone summit, the 2003 CONFEJES summit and the 2004 Arab 1st Ladies summit. Delegations included Bulgarian Prime Minister, Queen of Bahrain and Bulgarian Minister of Sports.
-
Advisor
Youth and Culture Center - Zouk Mikael
- 3 years
Civil Rights and Social Action
*Advised Mayor of the City of Zouk Mikael on development of cultural programs;
*Mentored YCC director on cultural programs development, curating events and exhibitions, and strategic development;
*Supported YCC in assisting artists to tailor their outreach and messages with curators, the media and the public. -
Editor in Chief of French and English Sections
Anwale Magazine, City of Zouk Mikael
- 8 years 3 months
Civil Rights and Social Action
Publications
-
Three key considerations for saving DACA during COVID-19
News Wire, The Center for the Study of Immigrant Integration, University of Southern California
In light of multiple unprecedented national crises, including the onset of a pandemic, a Supreme Court ruling affirming Trump’s termination of DACA, which would remove ability to work and strip protections from deportation, could cause negative long-term consequences for immigrant communities and the country as a whole. In the Los Angeles metropolitan region alone, over 82,000 recipients, the largest population of DACA beneficiaries in the country, would face DACA loss. In this essay we discuss…
In light of multiple unprecedented national crises, including the onset of a pandemic, a Supreme Court ruling affirming Trump’s termination of DACA, which would remove ability to work and strip protections from deportation, could cause negative long-term consequences for immigrant communities and the country as a whole. In the Los Angeles metropolitan region alone, over 82,000 recipients, the largest population of DACA beneficiaries in the country, would face DACA loss. In this essay we discuss three long-term consequences of terminating DACA.
Other authors -
-
Trump’s Xenophobia Will Exacerbate Crisis
The Progressive Magazine
Trump has repeatedly chosen opportunism over public health, but crises should not be used for promoting restrictionist policies against immigrants.
Other authors -
-
"Three Reasons to Reverse the Department of Homeland Security’s Migrant Protection Protocol.”
CSII Immigrant Integration Wire, University of Southern California
-
“The New Executive Order is No Solution: Three Facts on Family Separation and Detention."
CSII Immigration Integration Wire, University of Southern California
-
Syro-Lebanese Migration (1880-Present): Push and Pull Factors
The Middle East Institute, University of Washington, Washington DC
-
La Maison des Jeunes et de la Culture Ouvre ses Portes
Anwale, Municipality of Zouk Mikael
-
Soie et Emigration: Impact Socio-demographique sur la Ville de Zouk-Mikael
Anwale, Municipality of Zouk Mikael
Honors & Awards
-
IDEA Fellowship
Association of Fundraising Professionals, Golden Gate Chapter
-
McGrath Graduate Fellowship
University of San Francisco
-
LA County Commendation
LA County Supervisor Hilda Solis
"In recognition of dedicated service to the affairs of the community and for the civic pride demonstrated by numerous contributions for the benefit of all residents of Los Angeles County." Signed Hilda Solis, Los Angeles County Supervisor, First District.
-
Truman National Security Fellowship
Truman National Security Project
Security Fellow, focusing on Migration, Class of 2020
-
LA Mayor Recognition Award
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti
Recognition Award for her contributions to the immigrant population of Los Angeles
-
Salzburg Global Forum Fellow
Salzburg Global Forum, Austria
-
Eisenhower Fellow Global Woman Leader 2015
Eisenhower Fellowships, Philadelphia USA
-
Dutch Women Influencials Program
The Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs
-
Zouk Mikael's Mayoral Award
Mayor of Zouk Mikael, Lebanon
-
Dutch Women Influencials Program
The Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs
-
US Mission Honor Award
US Ambassador, David Hale
"For exceptional performance in advancing US support for human rights for all and in strengthening our outreach to Lebanon's vital civil society"
-
US Mission Honor Award
US Ambassador, David Hale
-
US Mission Honor Award
US Ambassador, David Hale
-
Benjamin Franklin Award
US Ambassador, Maura Connelly
-
Department of State Meritorious Honor Award
US Department of State, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, Washington D.C.
-
Meritorious Honor Award
US Ambassador Maura Connelly
Languages
-
French
Native or bilingual proficiency
-
English
Full professional proficiency
-
Spanish
Limited working proficiency
-
Arabic
Native or bilingual proficiency
Organizations
-
Association of Fundraising Professionals
Board Member, Co-Chair of the IDEA Fellowship
- Present -
Development Executives Roundtable
Member
- Present -
SOGI Campaigns
Statutory Member
- PresentExpert and statutory member of the SOGI Campaigns Organization which aims to build a global community of advocates who share resources and successful strategies in upholding LGBTI rights. https://sogicampaigns.org/about/
-
Truman National Security Project
Fellow
- PresentTruman National Security 2020 working on Immigration Policies.
-
Eisenhower Fellowships
Fellow, Global Woman Leader
- Present -
Lebanon Development Union
President
- Present -
National Women's Political Caucus, LA Metro
Board Member, Communications Chair
- -
Pacific Council on Foreign Relations
Member
-
Recommendations received
22 people have recommended Eliane
Join now to viewMore activity by Eliane
-
Congrats to my friend, Jesse Melgar, as the inaugural Vice President of Government Affairs for The California Endowment! Jessie is a long-time…
Congrats to my friend, Jesse Melgar, as the inaugural Vice President of Government Affairs for The California Endowment! Jessie is a long-time…
Liked by Eliane Fersan
-
One of the most interesting moments from a panel I facilitated last month for 250 independent school advancement professionals had nothing to do with…
One of the most interesting moments from a panel I facilitated last month for 250 independent school advancement professionals had nothing to do with…
Liked by Eliane Fersan
-
Calling all Stanislaus County nonprofits! Registration is now open for the final two trainings of the 2026 Porges Nonprofit Excellence Initiative…
Calling all Stanislaus County nonprofits! Registration is now open for the final two trainings of the 2026 Porges Nonprofit Excellence Initiative…
Liked by Eliane Fersan
-
La Journée de la France à l’USEK a réuni diplomates, universitaires, représentants du secteur privé, leaders et jeunes talents autour d’un dialogue…
La Journée de la France à l’USEK a réuni diplomates, universitaires, représentants du secteur privé, leaders et jeunes talents autour d’un dialogue…
Liked by Eliane Fersan
-
America is in the middle of one of the largest construction booms in our history. Across the country, we are building the physical foundation of the…
America is in the middle of one of the largest construction booms in our history. Across the country, we are building the physical foundation of the…
Liked by Eliane Fersan
-
🏆 🏀 Golden State Warriors are growing their foundation and development office by hiring a Director and Manager. Association of Fundraising…
🏆 🏀 Golden State Warriors are growing their foundation and development office by hiring a Director and Manager. Association of Fundraising…
Liked by Eliane Fersan
-
I’ve hit another milestone: I’ve earned my Certificate in Impact Investing from Daylight ! I am grateful to my team at DAFgiving360 for providing…
I’ve hit another milestone: I’ve earned my Certificate in Impact Investing from Daylight ! I am grateful to my team at DAFgiving360 for providing…
Liked by Eliane Fersan
-
President Salvador D. Aceves ’83, EdD ’95 met with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on June 25, as part of a visit by presidents of Jesuit universities…
President Salvador D. Aceves ’83, EdD ’95 met with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on June 25, as part of a visit by presidents of Jesuit universities…
Liked by Eliane Fersan
-
🎉 A major win for children and youth in the foster care and juvenile justice systems! Grateful for our team and our network of 44 local programs who…
🎉 A major win for children and youth in the foster care and juvenile justice systems! Grateful for our team and our network of 44 local programs who…
Liked by Eliane Fersan
Other similar profiles
Explore more posts
-
SoCal Grantmakers
Native voices are vital to our society and democratic processes. The report, "We The Resilient," published by the California Consortium for Urban Indian Health (CCUIH), California Native Vote Project, and Catalyst California (formerly Advancement Project California), sheds light on various Native issues in California. It delves into the health and wellbeing of Native communities in the state and seeks to address the historical and contemporary structural barriers that result in the disparities Native communities experience today. It also highlights the crucial role of philanthropy, nonprofits, and allies in addressing these issues. Learn about stories of resilience and effective power-building, community organizing, and policy advocacy led by Native communities across the state. Read more: https://buff.ly/tE3JS9L
Explore top content on LinkedIn
Find curated posts and insights for relevant topics all in one place.
View top content