Sherman Whites

Sherman’s bio

Sherman Whites is a consultant and philanthropic advisor who specializes in the areas of program strategy, stakeholder engagement, and capacity building.

Most recently, Sherman was selected as a Children and Family Fellow at the Annie E. Casey Foundation, an intensive leadership program focused on system-level change and innovation.

Whites previously served as a program director for the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation in Kansas City, where he managed philanthropic investments and led community grantmaking as part of the foundation’s $40 million annual education portfolio.

Prior to joining the Kauffman Foundation, Sherman was a program officer for the K-12 Education and Special Interest teams at the Walton Family Foundation.

Sherman began his career in philanthropy in 2011 after working with public charter schools in New Orleans as part of the Broad Foundation’s Residency in Urban Education. Prior to his career in education philanthropy, Sherman acquired experience in operations and brand management from several market-leading organizations including Ford Motor Company, PepsiCo, Campbell Soup Company, and Target Corporation.

Whites earned his Master of Business Administration from the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina and Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from Florida A&M University.

Sherman’s Session:

 “Lost In Translation - Decoding the Language of Philanthropy”

In this session, participants will demystify the often complex and jargon-filled language of philanthropy. They will learn to navigate key terms, concepts, and expectations that funders and philanthropic organizations use. Through real-world examples and practical exercises, participants will gain the confidence to communicate effectively with donors, grant makers, and partners, ensuring their messages resonate and their proposals stand out. By the end of the session, participants will be able to decode philanthropic language and translate their vision into compelling, fundable projects.