Autumn Joy Lee-Cass, a native of Dayton, Ohio has made metro Atlanta her home for a decade. She studied political science at Wilberforce University (WU), the oldest private Historically Black College and University (HBCU), where her student experience compelled her to become an active and engaged community member. Autumn considers herself a nonprofit ladder climber, having worked in various capacities throughout her career, serving students as a former educator and college recruiter, to becoming a client advocate and parenting coach for parents and caregivers of children in foster care.
Autumn is a mission-minded story collector and storyteller who fell in love with the fundraising profession because it allowed her to marry her passions of partnering with people and organizations that are solving the world’s biggest challenges and connecting them with partners and advocates who have the capacity and resources to further advance those solutions. She is the founding chair of the WU Alumni Association’s Young Alumni Committee, serves as an advisor to the Rising Professionals of Color in Fundraising, is a member of the African American Development Officers Network (AADO), and is a board member for the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Greater Atlanta Chapter and F3: Fabulous Female Fundraisers.
Remaining true to her name, Autumn seeks joy in all that life has to offer and is intentional in aligning herself with people, places, and spaces that help her realize that joy. She is married to her college sweetheart, Dwight, and they share two sons nicknamed Boogie and Ayves. In her spare time, Autumn enjoys trying out new restaurants with her foodie husband, engaging in boy-mom activities with her sons, performing globally as a vocalist with the Jeremy Winston Chorale, or being the loudest audience member at concerts and live podcasts.