Chelsea Brown is a philanthropist, renowned social impact advocate, and visionary entrepreneur. With a robust background in nonprofit management, Chelsea boasts over ten years of expertise in catalyzing philanthropic endeavors, fundraising initiatives, and fostering strategic partnerships. As the esteemed founder of The Black Mill, Chelsea spearheads a groundbreaking consulting firm committed to orchestrating cross-functional collaborations that propel engagement, drive transformative programs, and forge impactful partnerships on both national and international scales.
Chelsea's dedication to amplifying diversity and inclusion within philanthropy has garnered prestigious recognition, including the Diverse Communities Scholarship from the Association of Fundraising Professionals International Conference and the Charles R. Stephens Scholarship for the AADO/CASE Conference on Diverse Philanthropy and Leadership. In 2019, Chelsea was honored as a Forbes Under 30 Scholar, the University of Maryland's Do Good Institute Philanthropy Fellow, and a William Randolph Hearst Fellow with the Aspen Institute's Philanthropy and Social Innovation Program. Her contributions were further highlighted in 2020 when she was featured as a "Black Woman to Watch in Philanthropy" in BlackHer's seminal study, "The Black Woman's Guide to Philanthropy." The Black Mill has been awarded numerous grants and awards, such as the BGE Small Business Energizing Grant and the BEYGood Black Parade Route Small Business Grant. Her multifaceted background and unwavering commitment to driving positive change solidify Chelsea's standing as a trailblazer in philanthropy and social impact.
Throughout her career, Chelsea has held pivotal roles such as President of the Baltimore City Chamber of Commerce, Corporate Partnerships Manager for the Maryland Food Bank, and Community Engagement Specialist for The SEED School of Maryland. She also lent her expertise as the Corporate Purpose Specialist at the Nasdaq Foundation and the Exelon Foundation, where she played a pivotal role in guiding corporate social responsibility strategy and administering foundation-related grants. Chelsea has served on numerous boards, including the Winthrop University Foundation Board of Directors and the Emerging Practitioners of Philanthropy-DC Chapter. Chelsea received the Millard E. Tydings Regents Fellowship Fund during her graduate studies at the University of Maryland's School of Public Policy.
Chelsea earned her Master of Public Management from the University of Maryland in 2021, complementing her Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication from Winthrop University in 2014. Additionally, she augmented her expertise by completing the Executive Program in Social Impact from the University of Pennsylvania in 2023.
Chelsea is a proud native of Columbia, South Carolina, a military brat, and a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.