Akilah S. Wallace serves as the Vice President of Development at Big Thought, where she oversees a $8 million contributed revenue budget to equip and empower youth to create their best lives and world. Prior to joining Big Thought, Akilah served as executive director for Faith in Texas where they shaped life-changing public policy and community organizing campaigns, impacting the lives of countless Texans. She is a 20-year expert in nonprofit leadership, events, and fund development, and is passionate about grassroots social change and influencing the emerging generation of philanthropists of color.
Akilah has received numerous awards and honors for her leadership and philanthropic contributions, including the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy Women’s Philanthropy Institute Inaugural Black Women Give Back List, Young Black and Giving Back Institute’s Philanthropist of the Year, Dallas Business Journal 40 Under 40 and The Dallas Foundation Good Works Under 40.
Akilah is a reputable trailblazer who founded HERitage Giving Fund, North Texas’ first, Black membership giving circle, collectively awarding $100,000+ in grants to area nonprofits. She also serves as a board member of The Dallas Summit and Friends of Juanita J. Craft Civil Rights House and Museum.
She is pursuing a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Texas at Dallas in Human Services Management and Leadership and studied business marketing and sales at Wright State University.
At home, Akilah is the proud mother to college student and businessman, Jamel and student-athlete, Jayce.
