Ebonie Johnson Cooper

Ebonie is an enthusiastic leader whose professional expertise and vocational passion have provided the framework for her career.

As the Chief Millennial Officer of Friends of Ebonie, LLC and founder of the Young, Black & Giving Back Institute, Ebonie uses her research, thought-leadership, and expertise on young black philanthropy to serve as a bridge connecting civically engaged black millennials and nonprofit organizations. In 2013 Ebonie released the groundbreaking research as an NYU scholar entitled: African American Millennials: Discovering the Next Generation of Black Philanthropy for the Effective Communication of Non-Profit Organizations. Through workshops and trainings Ebonie educates young black professionals ages 25 - 40, to strengthen their civic leadership and giving. As a consultant through Friends of Ebonie, Ebonie guides and directs clients through communications strategies that will build relationships and increase engagement with diverse next generation leadership. Corporate and institutional support for the Young, Black & Giving Back Institute have come from Wells Fargo Advisors, Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, MTV Voices, New York University, the United Way, and Board Source, to name a few. Her leadership as a millennial leader and the work of Friends of Ebonie have been featured in ESSENCE Magazine, The Washington Post, Huffington Post Impact, Forbes and Policy Mic. Ebonie was recognized in September 2013 by JET Magazine as one of the nation’s Top 40 Under 40 for her innovation around African - American millennial philanthropy. She has been a featured speaker, and guest lecturer for organizations and institutions, that include Johns Hopkins University, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Independent Sector’s American Express NextGen Fellows Program, Board Source, UN Foundation, New York University, Georgetown University, and the Greater Washington Urban League. As a freelance writer, Ebonie has mused on life, relationships, religion and philanthropy for EBONY.com.

As a proven social media strategist, Ebonie raised more than $23,350 for Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington, garnering a National Boys & Girls Clubs of America Marketing & Communications Award (MAC) for Social Media. Ebonie has also led marketing, communications, and branding campaigns for organizations that include the Barack Obama Campaign for Change, The Prospect Park Alliance, Greater Centennial AME Zion Church, MTV and BET Networks. Ebonie began her career at Viacom, Inc. where her dynamic marketing and branding initiatives would eventually introduce BET Networks to the country of Japan in 2007 and launch the entire network in the United Kingdom in 2008.

In her philanthropic and civic leadership, Ebonie is a Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture Ambassador donor, and holds memberships with Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and Black Benefactors Giving Circle (DC). She served as a vice-President for the Junior Board of New York Cares, Inc. from 2009 - 2013. Ebonie is also a dedicated member of Reid Temple AME Church where she serves as a young adult ministry leader.

Ebonie is currently pursuing her masters in divinity as an Urban Fellow at Wesley Theological Seminary. She holds a Masters of Science in Public Relations & Corporate Communication from New York University and a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.