Saron Besera
Cincinnati,OH
Overview
3
3
years of professional experience
Work History
Youth Engagement and Program Lead
Eritrean Community of Cincinnati
08.2024 - Current
- Eritrean Community of Cincinnati is a community-based nonprofit serving immigrant and first-generation families through education, mentorship, and advocacy.
- Founded and led the Eritrean Youth Program after identifying a lack of resources and guidance for immigrant and first-generation youth in the community. Many were uncertain about education options, college pathways, and career opportunities after high school. I developed the program to bridge this gap—offering mentorship, college readiness support, scholarship guidance, and self-exploration workshops to help youth discover their interests and plan for their futures.
- Developed and implemented culturally responsive programming centered on identity, career development, and mental health, integrating college readiness and scholarship planning into all activities.
- Facilitated all youth engagement events and workshops, creating safe, inclusive spaces for discussion and reflection while providing 1:1 mentorship and guidance to help participants navigate academic, social, and career challenges.
- Developed consistent communication channels with youth and parents, maintaining engagement before and after events through newsletters, feedback sessions, and virtual meetings via Zoom.
- Led all aspects of program operations, including participant outreach, event logistics, and feedback collection, ensuring well-coordinated, youth-centered programming responsive to community input.
- Created marketing and outreach materials using Canva to promote events and expand participation, and collaborated with community leaders and professionals to strengthen mentorship opportunities and program visibility.
- Recognized by the Eritrean Community of Cincinnati for founding and leading a youth program that filled a critical gap in community support, empowerment, and belonging.
Youth Sponsored Programs Coordinator (Seasonal)
AFS USA
12.2024 - 03.2025
- AFS USA is a global nonprofit advancing intercultural learning and youth leadership through educational exchanges and federally funded programs that empower young people to become active, career-ready global citizens.
- Led end-to-end operations for the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) annual youth workshop, coordinating 200+ youth participants, staff, and volunteers to ensure a safe, structured, and engaging experience.
- Led operations for a high-impact annual youth workshop sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), coordinating 200+ youth participants, staff, and volunteers to ensure a safe, structured, and nurturing environment.
- Designed and analyzed surveys for 200+ youth, volunteers, and staff, capturing interests, availability, and accessibility needs; presented findings to executive leadership to guide decisions on logistics, cost forecasting, and program design, improving inclusivity and participant experience.
- Revamped operational systems by proposing and implementing Asana (project management software) as the central project management platform, migrating all workshop data and workflows from Excel into a unified, collaborative system and strengthening data governance, visibility, and accountability.
- Led communications and marketing for the workshop using the Sched platform—managing daily communications with students and families, configuring accounts, building session agendas, and enabling participants to view schedules, sign up for sessions, and access resources; designed branded assets in Canva and executed email campaigns to enhance clarity, engagement, and satisfaction.
- Developed and delivered Asana training for staff and volunteers, enabling the team to coordinate logistics more efficiently and improving overall event execution and follow-up.
- Created and managed post-event surveys and reporting, analyzing youth and stakeholder feedback and presenting actionable recommendations to improve program processes, communication, and participant support for future cohorts.
Grant Writer - Consultant
Fundraise Inc
05.2024 - 12.2024
- Managed end-to-end components of the grants lifecycle for multiple nonprofit partners, including prospect research, proposal development, submission coordination, and tracking reporting requirements.
- Secured $5,000–$25,000 in grant funding by writing and editing proposals for nonprofit clients.
- Improved clients’ fundraising readiness by collaborating to clarify needs, establish internal deadlines, and refine messaging to meet funder priorities.
- Expanded funding opportunities through prospect research that identified new potential grantmakers and strengthened clients’ fundraising pipelines.
- Enhanced fundraising strategy by combining prospect research, grant writing, and relationship support to align funders with organizational priorities.
- Ensured compliant and timely grant submissions by managing components of the solicitation and reporting processes and tracking funder requirements.
- Strengthened donor and partner engagement by preparing materials for executive meetings and supporting follow-up communications for stewardship.
Consultant, Happy Place Indonesia
Ashoka
08.2023 - 12.2023
- Supported a youth-led nonprofit to strengthen its programs by improving participant engagement, refining curricula, and applying youth empowerment and intercultural learning frameworks.
- Personally co-designed and implemented the Swazi SHEROES pilot program, coordinating operations, training, and data collection across U.S., Kenyan, and Eswatini teams to ensure alignment with community needs and donor-funded project goals.
- Through coordinated prospect research, partnership development, and donor outreach, raised $25,000 in startup funding to support program delivery, participant training, and community outreach.
- Implemented Airtable to organize grant-related records, track deliverables, streamline reporting workflows, and maintain documentation across country offices.
- Supported pre- and post-award activities by preparing funder materials, participating in donor communications, coordinating program activities tied to grants, and maintaining compliance documentation.
- Led partnership and stakeholder development, cultivating collaborations with schools, community groups, and corporate partners that expanded program reach and access to youth empowerment resources.
- Designed and facilitated leadership and well-being frameworks that strengthened youth engagement and supported long-term growth within community-based programs.
- Applied youth-empowerment and intercultural-learning principles to support program design and evaluation, resulting in refined curricula, improved participant outcomes, and stronger retention.
- Developed communication and branding strategies using Canva that increased participation, elevated donor visibility, and deepened cross-cultural understanding across communities.
Diaspora Networks Associate
Ashoka
01.2023 - 08.2023
- Expanded LinkedIn audience from 50 to 800+ by designing and implementing a targeted social media strategy and content calendar for Ashoka’s Diaspora Networks.
- Increased visibility of diaspora leaders by drafting and editing blog posts and social content that highlighted their work, impact, and stories.
- Created compelling digital narratives by conducting interviews with diaspora leaders and turning their insights into engaging multimedia stories for global audiences.
- Strengthened cross-regional collaboration by coordinating meetings and events with teams across Spain, Nigeria, Kenya, and the U.S., ensuring smooth communication and alignment.
Program Development and Partnerships Consultant
Sotenti International
06.2022 - 12.2022
- Soteni International is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing poverty and empowering youth and women through community-based health and education initiatives across Kenya and Eswatini.
- Personally co-designed and implemented the launch of the Swazi SHEROES pilot program—a new initiative created to help women in Eswatini build job skills, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship capabilities in order to strengthen their long-term economic independence. I worked across teams in the U.S., Kenya, and Eswatini to plan the program’s structure, coordinate operations, and ensure that every component—from training to data collection—aligned with local community needs.
- Through coordinated fundraising, donor engagement, and partnership development I raised $25K in startup funding that supported program delivery, participant training, and community outreach.
- Implemented the Airtable, a cloud-based project and data management platform, at the organization as a tool to streamline cross-country operations—coordinating logistics, data management, and reporting across Kenya and Eswatini offices—and utilized video conferencing tools (Zoom, Google Meet, WebEx) and educational technology (Microsoft Office Suite, Google Suite) to ensure real-time collaboration and team alignment.
- Led grant and partnership development initiatives that secured new funding opportunities and sustained education and empowerment programs benefiting underserved youth and women.
- Developed global outreach and communication strategies that increased participant engagement, elevated organizational visibility, and fostered cross-cultural connection across communities.
Education
Master of Arts - International Peace & Conflict Resolution
American University
Washington, DCBachelor of Arts - Philosophy, Politics, And The Public
Xavier University
Cincinnati08-2022
Timeline
Youth Sponsored Programs Coordinator (Seasonal)
AFS USA
12.2024 - 03.2025
Youth Engagement and Program Lead
Eritrean Community of Cincinnati
08.2024 - Current
Grant Writer - Consultant
Fundraise Inc
05.2024 - 12.2024
Consultant, Happy Place Indonesia
Ashoka
08.2023 - 12.2023
Diaspora Networks Associate
Ashoka
01.2023 - 08.2023
Program Development and Partnerships Consultant
Sotenti International
06.2022 - 12.2022
Master of Arts - International Peace & Conflict Resolution
American University
Bachelor of Arts - Philosophy, Politics, And The Public
Xavier University