Sheena Rayford
About Sheena Rayford
Sheena Rayford serves as the Corporate Partnerships Manager at Feeding America, where she has secured significant donations to enhance the organization's support for food banks. With a background in community engagement and business development, she has held various roles in nonprofit and corporate sectors, focusing on building impactful partnerships.
Work at Feeding America
Sheena Rayford serves as the Corporate Partnerships Manager at Feeding America, a role she has held since 2021. In this position, she secures significant donations, including multiple six and seven-figure contributions, which enhance the organization's capacity to support food banks and community initiatives. Sheena plays a crucial role in engaging C-suite leadership from corporate partners to bolster Feeding America's advocacy and awareness campaigns. Additionally, she develops and implements donor strategies that incorporate cause marketing and employee engagement to strengthen corporate partnerships. Sheena also leads communication and issue resolution efforts for major corporate donor accounts, ensuring the sustainability and effectiveness of these partnerships.
Previous Experience and Roles
Before joining Feeding America, Sheena Rayford held various roles that contributed to her expertise in community engagement and corporate partnerships. She worked at Be The Match, operated by the National Marrow Donor Program, as the Community Engagement Manager from 2015 to 2019 in the Greater Chicago Area and Northwest Indiana. Prior to that, she was a National Health Account Executive at PCM: The Right Technology, Delivered, from 2013 to 2014. Sheena also served as a Senior Business Development Representative at Chiro One Wellness Centers from 2014 to 2017 and as the Manager for the Walk To End Alzheimer's at the Alzheimer's Association® from 2019 to 2021.
Education and Expertise
Sheena Rayford has a strong educational background that supports her professional roles. She earned a Bachelor's degree in English Rhetoric from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She also holds a Master of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Illinois at Chicago, Jane Addams College of Social Work. In 2020, she completed the Graduate Young Nonprofit Leadership Series at the Quinlan School of Business, Loyola University Chicago. This combination of education in rhetoric, social work, and nonprofit leadership equips her with the skills necessary for effective communication and community engagement.
Community Involvement
In addition to her professional responsibilities, Sheena Rayford is actively involved in community initiatives. Since 2020, she has been a member of the Programming Committee and the Corporate Social Responsibility Advisory Board at the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce. Her involvement in these committees reflects her commitment to enhancing corporate social responsibility and fostering community engagement through collaborative efforts.