Sonia Alleyne

Biography

Sonia L. Alleyne, originally from London, England, serves as Executive in Residence and a faculty member in the Sawyer Business School’s Department of Public Service and Healthcare Administration. Her expertise lies in the nonprofit sector, and she teaches courses such as Social Change, Nonprofit Management, Fundraising for Nonprofits, Revenue Strategies for Nonprofits, Leadership in an Interconnected World, and Grant Writing. She is also the President and CEO of the Suffolk County Community Foundation.

Previously, Ms. Alleyne spent 14 years as Vice President and New England Regional Manager of Community Reinvestment for the Santander Bank Foundation, the ninth-largest bank in the world. In this role, she managed and allocated millions of dollars in grant support to nonprofit organizations throughout New England. She also directed the bank’s United Way Program and led numerous special projects. Prior to this, she served for seven years as the Director of Community Investment at the Massachusetts Affordable Housing Alliance (MAHA), where she oversaw local and national community initiatives and authored the report Insured for Life, Redlined to Death.

Ms. Alleyne is a graduate of Dorchester High School and holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics with a minor in Political Science from Northeastern University. She also earned a Master’s in Public Administration, with a concentration in State and Local Government, from Suffolk University. A sought-after thought leader in philanthropy, nonprofit management, board development, and fundraising, she has been featured in numerous articles and online publications.

Honors and Awards

Ms. Alleyne has received numerous accolades for her contributions to community service, education, and leadership, including:

• 2024 Sawyer Business School Dean’s Excellence Award in Teaching Practice
• 2022 Suffolk University Black Faculty Excellence Award
• 2018 Leading the Way Award, UMass Center for Collaborative Leadership
• 2014 Honorary Induction into Suffolk University MPA Pi Alpha Alpha
• 2014 Community Service Award, The Blakely Group
• 2013 Community Bank Hero, Bankers & Tradesman
• 2013 Community Heroes Award, Visiting Nurse Association of Boston
• 2012 Award for Excellence, Unity Sports & Cultural Association
• 2011 SCI Community Social Capitalist Award
• 2011 MAHA 20/20 Award, Massachusetts Affordable Housing Alliance
• 2010 Teen Empowerment Hope and Caring Award
• 2010 Boston Women’s Fund Woman of Action Award
• 2008 MLK Award for Community Service
• 2005 Hidden Heroes Award for Civic Leadership
• 2005 Community Capital Award, United Ways of New England
• 2004 Rebecca Lee Award, Harvard School of Public Health and Massachusetts Department of Public Health
• Numerous citations from the Massachusetts State Senate, House of Representatives, and Boston City Council

Appointments and Leadership Roles

• Appointed by Governor Deval Patrick to the Advisory Committee on Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention
• Appointed by Governor William Weld to the Massachusetts Fair Plan, serving for six years
• Chair of the 2021 Better Boston Independent Expenditure PAC for Mayoral Candidate Andrea Campbell

Community Service and Board Memberships

Ms. Alleyne has served in numerous leadership and advisory roles, including:

• Board of Trustees Member, Boston Arts Academy
• Advisory Board Member, Yawkey Boys & Girls Club in Roxbury
• Advisory Board Member, The Commonwealth Seminar
• Board Member, Greater Love Community Cares

She is a past president or board member of:

• Youth Build Boston
• New England Aquarium Board of Overseers
• Roxbury Community College Foundation Board
• Rutland Corner Foundation
• Fair Housing Center of Greater Boston
• Corporate Volunteer Council of Boston
• Lead Action Collaborative

She also served on the boards or committees of many organizations, including:

• Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC)
• Massachusetts Community and Banking Council (MCBC)
• Salvation Army Kroc Center Advisory Council
• Ailey Camp Event Committee
• New England Blacks in Philanthropy
• Teen Empowerment
• Edvestors
• School on the Move Prize
• Boston Children’s Chorus
• Community Gems
• Peace Games

Her community involvement includes roles such as Celebrity Juror, Executive Panelist for Citizen Schools, and participant in the Black Professionals Consortium at John McCormack Middle School.

Past Membership and Volunteer Work

• Women’s Network Advisory, Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce
• MassGap Task Force on Housing and Commonwealth Development
• Clerk, Melville Park Neighborhood Association
• Member, Codman Square House Tour Committee
• Volunteer for Deval Patrick and Tim Murray’s gubernatorial campaign
• 2018 Campaign Chair, Committee to Elect Linda Champion for Suffolk District Attorney

Intellectual Contributions

• Sonia Alleyne's Intellectual Contributions [PDF]