BIOgraphy

Photo Credit: Anita Nowacka

Vanessa Priya Daniel is an author, organizer, and award-winning leader for racial and gender justice. A queer, biracial (Sri Lankan and white) feminist, and mother of two daughters, the heart of her work is supporting social justice leaders and philanthropy to build the grassroots power it takes to win a multiracial, feminist democracy. A seasoned public speaker, she is known for inspiring audiences to action through a style that delivers both fire and humor.

Her book, Unrig the Game: What Women of Color Can Teach Everyone About Winning, was published by Random House in March 2025. 

Vanessa has been featured by Inside Philanthropy as one of the “Top 100 Most Powerful Players in Philanthropy,” by The Chronicle of Philanthropy as one of fifteen “Influencers” who are changing the non-profit world, and a recipient of the Smith College Medal, Vanessa has written for The New York Times and other publications.

Rooted in her experience as a labor and community organizer, she founded and served for 17 years as executive director of Groundswell Fund, a leading funder of women of color-led grassroots and electoral organizing. Under her leadership Groundswell moved over $100 million to the field through a decision-making structure that featured supermajorities of women of color movement leaders and organizers on its staff and board. More than 40 foundations and 2,000 individual donors relied on Groundswell to reach 200+ organizations at the grassroots.

Through Vanessa Daniel Consulting, LLC, she offers keynotes and workshops, as well as strategic advising and coaching support to donors, foundations, grassroots organizations and organizational leaders. She serves on the Board of Directors for Public Research Associates and Hedgebrook, on the Advisory Board/Brain Trust of the Kataly Foundation’s Environmental Justice Resource Collective, and the Democracy Frontline Fund. She is also a fellow with the Decolonizing Wealth Project.