Niya Ray is the foundation relations associate for CLASP’s Development team. In her role, Niya assists with the Development team’s foundation prospecting efforts, project management and grant proposal and report writing. Prior to joining CLASP, Niya served as a LEAD Democracy Fellow through NYU Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, where she was able to work at the Declaration for American Democracy and support its organizing efforts to ensure our democracy is in the hands of the people. Before her time at DFAD, Niya held various roles in the non-profit sector and in state and local government including time at The Century Foundation, The Pennsylvania State Senate, and The Georgia Innocence Project where she served as a Development/Communications intern. Niya holds an MPA in Public and Nonprofit Management and Policy from the NYU Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service and a BA in Political Science from Spelman College.