Donella Rapier

Donella Rapier is the President and CEO of BRAC USA, the North American affiliate of BRAC. Founded in 1972 in Bangladesh, then one of the poorest countries on earth, BRAC has grown to become one of the largest and most effective nongovernmental organizations in the world – and the only one of its scale to have originated in the Global South. BRAC’s programs in South Asia and Africa now reach more than 100 million people, providing them with tools to move from poverty into secure, resilient livelihoods.

Before joining BRAC USA, Donella served as the Chief Development and Administrative Officer at Accion, a pioneer and global leader in microfinance and financial inclusion. Prior to that, she was the Chief Financial Officer at Partners In Health, a global healthcare organization working in remote places where healthcare alternatives are limited or otherwise nonexistent, such as Haiti, Rwanda and Malawi. Earlier in her career, Donella spent more than a decade in senior leadership roles at Harvard University, including Vice President for Alumni Affairs and Development and Chief Financial Officer for Harvard Business School. Donella received her MBA from Harvard Business School and began her career at Price Waterhouse.

An outdoor enthusiast, Donella enjoys bicycling, hiking and kayaking. She also serves as a Trustee and Treasurer for the Lake Titus Protective Association in the Adirondacks, where her family vacations. She lives in Boston, MA, with her husband, Andy Pickett, a retired attorney.