Khalilah Elliott - Founder / Principal Consultant, Gafford Communications

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Work Background

YES! MediaInterim Executive Director

May. 2024 - Jun. 2025United StatesStabilized a nearly 30-year old nonprofit, independent media organization during a major leadership transition, providing executive oversight and guiding YES! Media through its final year of operations. Outlined and implemented a strategic vision that prioritized sustainability, organizational right-sizing, and future readiness—including a digital-first publishing strategy, a 30th anniversary fundraising campaign, and a major initiative ("Progress 2025") to expand visibility and partnerships. Directed all core administrative and operational functions—including Development, Finance, HR/Administration, Operations, IT/Technology, and Customer Service—ensuring continuity, compliance, and efficiency during a time of financial challenge. Partnered with the Board of Directors to design and execute a responsible closure plan, including severance and transition support for staff, while aligning with the broader strategic vision. Managed donor, reader, and institutional partner relationships, sustaining engagement and revenue streams while cultivating philanthropic and corporate partnerships to support long-term impact initiatives. Supported the launch and oversaw promotion for "Progress 2025," a multi-platform campaign to amplify diverse voices and reframe narratives on democracy, climate, and racial justice. Represented YES! Media nationally, strengthening the organization’s profile within philanthropy, independent media, and cultural sectors. Implemented transparent communication strategies with staff, board, and funders to maintain trust, alignment, and accountability. Positioned the closure as a case study for the nonprofit journalism field, contributing thought leadership on funding, sustainability, and narrative innovation.

Gafford CommunicationsFounder & Chief Disruptor

Jan. 2020Dallas/Fort Worth AreaFounder of Gafford Communications a dynamic social impact consulting firm committed to partnering with nonprofits, artistic institutions, philanthropic organizations and socially conscious brands to drive transformative change. Our mission is to foster a more inclusive and equitable world by providing tailored consulting services such as: executive management, leadership support, strategic advisement, marketing/strategic communications, fundraising & resource development, event production, programming/special initiatives curation, etc. With expertise in executive leadership and diverse experiences at the intersection of communications, art/culture, philanthropy, and social justice, we aspire to empower organizations to amplify marginalized voices and champion social justice issues, while also building and sustaining authentic relationships with those communities - ultimately creating a more just and inclusive society. Current/past clients include: Reproductive Health Impact (RH Impact): The Collaborative for Equity & Justice, National Birth Equity Collaborative (NBEC), New York Theater Workshop, Fiasco Theater, Center for Workforce Excellence, etc.

Reproductive Health (RH) ImpactVice President of Institutional Development & Capacity Building

Jan. 2020 - Jan. 2024United StatesEmbedded as a member of client partner's executive leadership team collectively responsible for stewarding the organization; provided critical support (e.g. executive leadership and thought partnership) during a major transition in leadership; Established and led Development (Fundraising) & Marketing / Communications operations; recruited and led Development staff as well as mentored the Culture Shift & Strategic Communications team; Successfully secured over $6.7M in major gifts for general operating support within two (2) years, significantly contributing to doubling the client's operating budget twice from under $1M in 2020 to over $8.6M in less than three years; Facilitated strategic partnerships with key stakeholders (ex. funders, corporate sponsors, community-based organizations (CBOs), media partners, professional associations, alliances, government agencies, political & community leaders, etc.) invested in reproductive justice and Black maternal/infant health care; Led strategy development, organizational networking, alliance building, and relationship management with a specific goal of increasing the capacity of the organization and its allies to achieve their respective missions and efforts in reproductive justice and Black maternal/infant health care initiatives; Worked to promote and uplift the scholarly research of Black/Brown women drawing global awareness to the Black maternal & infant mortality crises while also promoting reproductive justice, advocacy, training, etc; Managed & oversaw ad hoc projects, campaigns, special initiatives, etc. including supporting the Business Development team's vetting of potential client partners to ensure alignment with the organization’s values and commitment to reproductive justice and birth equity; Significantly increased organizational brand awareness and profile among the general public and key stakeholders; led organizational rebrand and redesign of key assets (including website and social media).

Realemn ProductionsManaging Partner & Chief Creative Officer

Jan. 2019 - Jan. 2020Responsible for managing creative operations at marketing consulting firm; managed the company's brand efforts - driving awareness campaigns and increasing its social media presence; preparing pitch decks for potential clients; brainstorming brand partnership opportunities, etc; Created and implemented marketing and communication strategies aimed at engaging multicultural audiences as a consultant to clients including Broadway productions, arts institutions, and other entertainment brands; Conceived marketing strategies, executed ad buys, and produced audience engagement activities; advised producers on special events and community engagement initiatives designed to increase brand awareness among audiences of color; Managed multiple freelancers supporting the development of assets including graphic designers, social media managers, video producers, etc. Served on multiple industry Covid-19 Task Forces/Committees with special efforts made to represent the interest of communities of color; Current/past clients supported during my tenure included: Hadestown (2019 Tony Winner, Best Musical), MJ the Musical, Apollo Theater, New York Theater Workshop, McCarter Theatre, etc.

Disney Theatrical GroupDirector of Marketing

Jan. 2017 - Jan. 2018New York, NYManaged the brand, oversaw the marketing strategy, budget, and media buying for ALADDIN on Broadway for two seasons as well as consulted on the launch of the production’s national tour and international productions worldwide; Led and oversaw the development of creative and advertising campaigns – maintaining record-breaking sales heading into the show’s 5th year (an anomaly on Broadway); Oversaw the launch of the 2018 Disney on Broadway Summer campaign highlighting all 3 flagship Disney shows (The Lion King, Frozen, Aladdin); Collaborated across the division (e.g. DTG) with Sales, Publicity and Finance departments to maximize brand awareness and drive ticket sales; partnered with other Disney departments (ex. ABC, Disney Channel, parks, etc.) to produce special cross promotional events; Managed the work efforts (e.g. advertising, asset development, audience engagement, etc.) of the firm’s media agency, multicultural marketing agency, marketing coordinator, external graphic designer(s), etc.; Oversaw the development of creative assets and liaised with Creative Services, Social Media and Web teams on content development; Led a major diversity & inclusion initiative in an effort to increase engagement with multicultural audiences and grow sales; produced events with major influencers highlighting challenges and opportunities related to the lack of diversity in the Broadway space including the acclaimed Tastemakers of Color Event; Implemented a supplier diversity plan that led to an increase in contract awards to agencies owned / operated by underrepresented groups; Partnered with Education colleagues to identify schools with qualified students to help diversify the pool of applicants in the pipeline for the DTG & Broadway League Internship programs; produced 1st Career Panel event connecting underrepresented students from Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs) and high schools nationwide to executives of color at Disney Theatrical.

Apollo Theater Foundation, Inc.Director of Marketing

Jan. 2012 - Jan. 2017Greater New York City AreaConceptualized and executed marketing strategies promoting the artistic, community, and educational programming of one of the entertainment world's most iconic arts institutions and historical brands; Oversaw ticket sales and executed advertising campaigns that resulted in historical 30% increase in advance ticket sales, 15% increase of single ticket buyers, and 25% growth in group sales; exceeded annual revenue goals each fiscal year; Managed marketing campaigns & advertising budgets - significantly reducing overall spend of show/series' budgets; wrote creative briefs and ad copy; established & managed asset production timelines; conducted market research and analyzed ad campaigns’ performance; Led audience development initiatives; established numerous cross-promotional relationships with peer orgs (ex. Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, NY Public Radio, Lincoln Center, etc.) to reach target audiences and increase brand recognition; Produced marketing promotions, large-scale activations, and special events in partnership with the PR team; helped to raise brand awareness via special digital/media projects and programming that received substantial press coverage by major outlets such as the inductions of legendary artists (Prince, Billie Holiday, Richard Pryor, etc.) into the Apollo’s Walk of Fame; Increased institution's brand visibility locally & globally via special projects in partnership with tourism groups (NYC & Company, New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau, Harlem Chamber of Commerce) and major brands (Coca-Cola, Essence Music Festival, etc.); Provided marketing support to high profile rental clients (ex. American Express, BET, Centric, FOX, HBO, Live Nation, MSNBC, Universal Pictures, Spike TV, WE TV, etc.); Led team of full-time staff, interns, consultants, creative agencies, etc. who provided advertising, media buying, graphic design, group sales, digital/web content, email marketing, administrative and customer relations support.

Dillard UniversitySr. Director, Annual Giving & Donor Relations/Adjunct Professor of Theater

Jan. 2009 - Jan. 2012Greater New Orleans AreaOversaw the Annual Giving Office and Donor Relations program(s) - developed and implemented effective marketing strategies and solicitation campaigns in an effort to increase financial contributions and participation among individual alumni, faculty/staff, students, constituent organizations and corporate matching gifts annually. Supervised and provided leadership to the Advancement Services staff responsible for gift accounting and reporting, data inputting systems and analyses, donor stewardship, acknowledgement and gift recognition. Taught African American Drama and Voice & Diction undergraduate courses as an Adjunct Faculty member.

Atlantic Theater CompanyDirector of Marketing

Jan. 2008 - Jan. 2009Greater New York City AreaLed the marketing department of Tony-award winning Off-Broadway company during the Director’s absence, collaborated with Artistic & Managing Directors to plan competitive marketing strategies, maintained multiple company websites, managed marketing budget and marketing interns, oversaw a membership campaign that yielded 1,500+ new members and increased revenue more than 26% from the previous year.