Donna Gaines
President, SAGE Collective
President & CEO, Donna M. Gaines, Ltd
Treasurer, TREND CDC
Donna Gaines is the President of Sage Collective, a not-for-profit organization established to provide high-quality, affordable housing for older adults with low and moderate incomes. The organization also delivers supportive services and learning programs that enhance the quality of life for older adults and help them achieve greater vitality, fulfillment, and dignity.
In addition to over 30 years of entrepreneurial experience as the owner of several business enterprises, Donna has advised hundreds of corporations, nonprofit organizations, government entities, and small businesses on integrative strategies to enhance and accelerate their business performance and growth. While President & CEO of the Alliance of Business Leaders and Entrepreneurs (ABLE), Donna led the business development activities for the organization’s minority business owners and represented ABLE in discussions on small business development with members of the Public Liaison’s Office of President-elect Obama’s Transition Team. As the former National Director of Rainbow PUSH Coalition’s International Trade Bureau, Donna provided oversight for the business development activities for the organization’s six satellite offices and their members, and also served as a liaison for embassy officials and designees from Venezuela, Mexico, Ghana, and London for the development of business opportunities.
Recognizing that education, social entrepreneurship, and economic empowerment are critical to the quality of life and the future of our families and communities, Donna currently serves on the Board of Directors for Sunshine Enterprises and has previously served on the Boards for the YWCA Metropolitan Chicago, The Primo Center for Women and Children, Moneythink, Roosevelt University’s Heller College of Business, and Village Leadership Academy.