Jess (Ayden) LI
Nonprofit Consultant & Organizer
Jess (Ayden) Li is a nonprofit strategist, consultant, and certified diversity coach with a proven track record of guiding organizations through crisis and transformation. With 20 years of experience in nonprofits, philanthropy, and movement building, she helps organizations not just talk about diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB)—but actually live it. As the co-founder and Principal Consultant of Healing Equity United, she works with nonprofits to transform their cultures from the inside out, making DEIB a core part of how they operate rather than an afterthought.
Her career has always focused on supporting communities that have historically been pushed to the margins. She’s served as CEO of San Francisco SafeHouse, providing transitional housing and support to survivors of sex trafficking, and was the Executive Director at the Asian/Pacific Islander Domestic Violence Resource Project in Washington, D.C., helping survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. She’s also worked in humanitarian aid, focusing on internally displaced communities, refugees, and civic engagement with the United Nations Mission in Sudan and the International Rescue Committee.
Jess is known for asking the hard questions, navigating tough conversations, and helping leaders build organizations that truly reflect their values. Before co-founding Healing Equity United, she was the Director of Impact Initiatives at LeaderSpring Center, supporting nonprofit executives of color. She specializes in nonprofit turnarounds, stepping in when organizations face financial crises, leadership transitions, or staff burnout. Her greatest strength is leading in times of crisis, helping organizations stabilize, rebuild trust, and emerge stronger. She has successfully right-sized operations, rebuilt teams, and repositioned organizations for long-term sustainability—ensuring that vital services continue for the communities they serve.
A proud 1st generation immigrant raised on Munsee Lenape land in New York City, Jess is now based in Oakland, California on Mwuekma Ohlone land. She is deeply involved in philanthropy and community organizing. She co-founded the API Giving Project, serves on the boards of the Asian Women’s Shelter and Pawsitive Alliance, and is on the Advisory Council for the API Institute on Gender-Based Violence.
Jess is also a certified Professional Diversity Coach with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and International Relations from Syracuse University’s Maxwell School, an MPA from Cornell University, and an Executive MBA from Brown University.
When she’s not working, you’ll find her training dogs, traveling, or playing with her two rescue pups, Hansyn and Kobe.
Key Identities: she/her/hers, Asian American, 1st gen immigrant, full-time dog mom, community organizer
Raised on Munsee Lenape land, occupying Mwuekma Ohlone land