Talladega College announced the appointment of Steven DeCaprio as the director of development and philanthropy. Bringing 25 years of experience in environmental and civil rights non-profit leadership, DeCaprio joins Talladega to drive strategic fundraising initiatives and advance the mission of Alabama’s oldest private historically Black institution of higher learning. In his role, DeCaprio will oversee major gift strategies, donor cultivation, and philanthropic outreach to bolster Talladega College's academic programs, campus development, and student scholarship opportunities.
DeCaprio brings a proven track record of innovative fundraising, community organizing, and data-driven donor engagement strategies to the College. Most recently, he served as chapter director for the Alabama Chapter of the Sierra Club. During his tenure, he successfully steered the organization through the COVID-19 pandemic by transitioning to remote programming, doubling the chapter’s fundraising revenue, tripling volunteer engagement, and helping secure landmark commitments to reduce Alabama’s reliance on coal-generated power by over 50%.
"We are thrilled to welcome Mr. DeCaprio to Talladega and the institutional advancement team," said Tia Wright-Richards, vice president of institutional advancement. "His extensive experience as both an organizer and a fundraiser brings a fresh perspective to our development strategy."
Throughout his career, DeCaprio developed and pioneered "Organizing Centered Fundraising," a relationship-driven model that connects fundraising directly to active community engagement and shared institutional purpose. His data-driven methodologies previously enabled the San Francisco Bay Chapter of the Sierra Club to raise over $1.2 million in accrued funding while navigating national non-profit funding downturns.
Originally from Fort Walton Beach, Florida, DeCaprio began his career as a youth civil rights organizer. He later served as interim executive director for the Meiklejohn Civil Liberties Institute in Oakland, working alongside civil rights pioneer Ann Fagan Ginger. DeCaprio holds a Master of Laws degree in Public International Law from the University of London.
