Sony M. Baker is an accomplished fundraising professional with over 20 years of experience in the nonprofit and education sectors. She recently joined Change Summer as the Senior Director of Development and Marketing, where she leads fundraising strategy, donor engagement, and marketing efforts to expand the organization’s impact.
A Brooklyn native and the daughter of a single, immigrant mother from the Dominican Republic, Sony’s personal journey has shaped her deep commitment to social justice and equity. Her resilience and leadership emerged early on, using music and dance as creative outlets while navigating challenges as an Afro-Latina artist. Sony was a founding staff member at the Harvey Milk High School at the Hetrick-Martin Institute (HMI)—the first fully accredited public school dedicated to serving LGBTQ+ youth—solidifying her passion for supporting underserved communities.
Before joining Change Summer, Sony served as Assistant Vice President of Individual Giving at Peer Health Exchange, where she led strategic donor engagement and fundraising initiatives. She has also held leadership roles at Bank Street College of Education, New Jersey City University, and HMI, among other institutions. Her expertise spans individual giving, donor relations, alumni engagement, major gifts, annual fund strategy, grant writing, and database management.
In addition to her nonprofit leadership, Sony is the founder of SMB Empowers, Inc., a consulting organization dedicated to helping nonprofits enhance their fundraising efforts.
Sony holds a B.A. in Political Science and English Literature from Baruch College, an M.P.A. from John Jay College, and a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Technology Leadership from New Jersey City University. She proudly serves on the Board of Helping All Women Transform (H.A.W.T.) Muse, Inc., supporting young women transitioning out of foster care.
When she’s not championing equity through her work, Sony and her husband stay busy raising their two energetic children and planning their next global adventure.
Sony firmly believes that true justice cannot exist without education, support, and empowerment — a philosophy that continues to inspire her work at Change Summer.