Bpeace Community Spotlight: Skillanthropist Volunteer Expert Donna Fleetwood

Donna Fleetwood: Giving Back Through Bpeace

After a successful 30-year career in real estate, Donna Fleetwood now owns an art studio in Santa Fe, NM. She coaches real estate agents on how to achieve success with greater clarity, focus, ease, and grace. On her LinkedIn page, Donna refers to Bpeace as a nonprofit that "has made a huge difference in my life." In a conversation with Chief Growth Officer Susy Cheston, Donna shared her inspiring Bpeace journey.

What inspired you to give back through Bpeace?

"I joined Bpeace in 2009 as a synchronistic way to support women. I went to the UN Commission on the Status of Women and was heartbroken by what I learned about women struggling to support their families. Someone passed on an email with information about Bpeace. I got on a call with co-founder Toni Maloney, and ended up participating in the Race to Innovation in Afghanistan and Rwanda."

A Meaningful Bpeace Moment: Working with Latifa from Afghanistan

"I’ve had so many meaningful moments with Bpeace small businesses, it’s hard to pick just one. But one that stands out was working with a woman named Latifa from Afghanistan. She had a dream of starting a kitchen manufacturing business. A year into our work, another volunteer Skillanthropist, Paula Wilbert, joined the team, which was a huge help. We worked with Latifa for five years as she launched her business in Kabul.

Latifa even traveled to the U.S. for training, sponsored by the State Department, and stayed at my house for a week. During that time, she partnered with a cabinet manufacturer in Lancaster, PA, and several other U.S. businesses. She also realized that men needed to be part of the process and teamed up with her brother, another entrepreneur.

Unfortunately, due to threats from those opposed to men and women working together, the kitchen manufacturing business had to close. However, Latifa became a prominent women’s rights leader in Afghanistan and an advocate for education.

In 2022, after the Taliban takeover, three Bpeace volunteers—myself, Paula Wilbert, and Bpeace board member Marla Gitterman—helped Latifa escape Afghanistan. She is now in Canada with her family.

To this day, we share a close personal relationship. When Latifa stayed with me, we would stand in my backyard and look at the moon. She said, ‘I will always think of you when I see the moon.’"

Other Bpeace Projects You’ve Worked On

"I’ve been involved in several impactful Bpeace projects over the years. I conducted customer service training and helped write a manual for the first ice cream store in Rwanda. I also hosted a group of Rwandan entrepreneurs for a week, as they visited local businesses.

Additionally, I co-authored a sales manual for entrepreneurs in Guatemala and El Salvador. I attended the first business meeting in El Salvador with Toni, where we listened and learned from local entrepreneurs. I worked with a Guatemalan furniture maker, Rodrigo Duarte, who spent three days receiving training in Lancaster, PA.

I’ve also completed several G-files (Bpeace business profile reports), including one for a woman-owned stained-glass manufacturer in El Salvador in 2020."

How Did You Balance Your Work, Life, and Volunteerism?

"During my real estate career, I had a wonderful assistant who helped support this work. I became more efficient at my job so I could make time for my passion—volunteering with Bpeace. The latitude I had in my work allowed me to build relationships with entrepreneurs and be creative in how I could help them grow."

Have You Introduced Anyone to Bpeace?

"My involvement with Bpeace has sparked organic interest in others. I remember recruiting someone I met on a plane. I also used to speak to women’s groups, including serving as a speaker for an International Women’s Day event locally.

When Latifa was coming to the U.S. for training, the company that had been lined up to host her pulled out at the last minute. But thanks to a contact I made at one of my talks, we reached out to the CEO of a different company, who was eager to help.

People were especially excited to hear about the opening of the ice cream store in Rwanda. I shared this story in Toastmasters, to schools, women’s groups, and even to the Model UN at Penn State."