Shari Silberstein is strategist, facilitator, and expert in social change organizing, advocacy, and organizational development and leadership. Through Shari Silberstein, LLC, she supports nonprofits and philanthropy to provide planning, advising, facilitation, and project-based consulting that strengthens organizations, sharpens strategy, and helps them deliver on their missions.

Shari is best known for 21 years of leadership at Equal Justice USA (EJUSA), a national leader in the movement to transform the justice system. She took the organization from a project housed within another institution and led its transition to an independent nonprofit, serving as its founding Executive Director. During her tenure she built a diverse and engaged Board of Directors, increased funding more than 16X, and grew to a connected, joyful team of 25 across 14 states.

Shari led the first successful campaign in the modern era to end the death penalty at the state level and helped architect a movement-wide strategy that guides abolition efforts today. Under her leadership, EJUSA and its local partners ended the death penalty in 11 states, secured more than $200 million in state budget appropriations for healing and violence prevention, obtained millions more for Black- and Brown-led healing organizations, launched pioneering programs addressing trauma between police and communities of color, led sophisticated narrative change campaigns that generated thousands of media placements, and elevated the leadership of Black and Brown survivors of violence. Internally, Shari guided EJUSA through a multi-year racial equity initiative, including a successful transition to Black-led and majority-BIPOC board and staff across all levels. Her thought leadership has been featured in media outlets including the New York Times, the Washington Post, CNN, the New Yorker, and more.

Shari stepped down from EJUSA to create space for leadership directly impacted by the issues at the center of the organization’s work. She became the first Chief Operating Officer at the Fund for Nonviolence (FNV), a limited life foundation supporting grassroots organizations advancing justice, reparations, civic engagement, and more. There, she helped shepherd FNV into its final chapter and a significant expansion of its grantmaking. Her work included facilitating key decision-making and scenario planning with the board and leadership team, strengthening systems for board engagement, grantmaking, and financial tracking, and deepening alignment between organizational culture, values, and operations.

Shari’s experience in philanthropy began during her time at EJUSA, where she led planning sessions for multiple philanthropic partners, including her own funders, served on grantmaking committees at the Tides Foundation, and played leadership roles in several philanthropic-grantee collaboratives.

Throughout her career, Shari has developed deep expertise in strategy and facilitation, helping dozens of organizations clarify where they’re headed and how to get there. A superpower is her ability to move fluidly between vision and execution, allowing her to both create long-term alignment and convert bold ideas into near-term action.

EJUSA’s sought-after model of accompaniment continues to shape Shari’s consulting practice. She meets clients where they are and partners closely to support organizational strengthening; facilitate strategic and campaign planning; lead workshops and trainings; advise teams and boards; and build capacity in fundraising, financial management, and hiring.

A consistent throughline in Shari’s work is her commitment to elevating and supporting the leadership of those impacted by injustice, helping them tell stories, build movements, and win campaigns to build a more just and sustainable world.

Shari is also a Change Leaders in Philanthropy Fellow through Grantmakers for Effective Organizations, a Senior Advisor to the Public Equity Group, and a founding Steering Committee member of the Independent Justice Consultants Network. Earlier in her career, Shari worked on foreign policy in the Middle East and as an independent filmmaker.

LinkedIn: Shari Silberstein