Amethyst Rodriguez is the Institutional Giving Officer for the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando, Florida. She holds a Master’s in International Development. She is pursuing a Ph.D. in Community Research and Action at Binghamton University’s College of Community and Public Affairs, where she is a Clifford D. Clark Fellow. Her Ph.D. research focuses on the decolonization of philanthropy. She served in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo for more than a decade spearheading initiatives on disarmament and demobilization of ex-combatants as well as education and development in war-affected areas.

Amethyst briefly worked in local government through community organizing and communications throughout 2020 during COVID, racial reckoning and economic instability. She also served as the Central Florida Grant Professionals Association Chapter Secretary and served for two years as a grant panelist for the State of Florida. Amethyst has successfully raised more than $10 million in grants, individual giving and corporate philanthropy throughout her career.

She is fluent in Swahili and is actively involved in professional associations, serving the profession through writing academic publications, conducting community workshops and writing policy to help reframe philanthropic partnership and governance to be more inclusive, equitable and just.