Our staff based in the US focus on the sponsor-child relationships that help our students excel and succeed. When asked, the students have indicated that these relationships are the ones that encourage and inspire them to perform well in their studies and beyond.
Dan Fernelius, President
Dan Fernelius is the President of Friends of Ngong Road. He brings with him nearly fifteen years of experience building nonprofit organizations that are thoughtful in structure, clear in purpose, and ambitious in reach—ensuring that strategy and story all reinforce the impact they aim to achieve. His work sits at the intersection of fundraising, organizational development, and mission-grounded storytelling to drive results and deepen impact.
Before becoming President, Dan served on the Friends of Ngong Road board and chaired the Development Committee, contributing to the organization’s long-range planning and its evolving vision for shared leadership between the U.S. and our partners in Kenya at the Ngong Road Children’s Foundation.
Prior to Friends of Ngong Road, Dan spent six years at the Internet Security Research Group (ISRG), the nonprofit behind Let’s Encrypt—raising more than $35 million to support work serving billions of people around the world. Before ISRG, Dan worked in the vibrant Twin Cities arts community, most recently at Mixed Blood Theatre in the Cedar Riverside neighborhood of Minneapolis.
Dan is pragmatic and people-centered. He’s as energized by the less glamorous, often invisible work of nonprofit growth—refining systems, strengthening teams, bolstering databases—as he is by a cup of coffee with a supporter.
Speaking of coffee: if you’d like to get in touch with Dan, he’d love to hear from you. Drop him a note at daniel.fernelius@ngongroad.org.
Dan grew up in Minnesota and lives with his family in South Minneapolis. A graduate of Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, he has remained active in arts and nonprofit communities throughout his career. Outside of Friends of Ngong Road, he serves on the boards of VocalEssence and the Minnesota Opera, in addition to volunteering with other organizations. On any given day, you can find him walking around Lake Harriet with his dog, Piper, contemplating whether he finally got the ending of this bio just right.
Contact: daniel.fernelius@ngongroad.org
Jil Bakko, Accountant
Jil has been with Friends of Ngong Road in her current position as an Accountant since 2012. She enjoys the challenge of full-charge bookkeeping along with being the point person for the annual audit. She has been proud of seeing the organization grow over the years and the impact that we have made in students’ lives.
Before Friends of Ngong Road, Jil worked at Bancorp Asset Management, Piper Capital Management, and Voyager Asset Management as an accountant. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire.
While Jil isn’t working she enjoys spending time with her teenage daughters and getting away to her cabin in Brainerd.
Contact: jil@ngongroad.org
Naomi Miezwa, Donor and Communications Manager
Naomi joined our organization in the summer of 2021. Her position focuses on the sponsor and donor experience. She ensures that sponsors feel connected to our mission and their students and that donors feel they are having an impact.
Naomi started her non-profit career in 2012 as a Sexual Assault Victim Advocate. She grew her career in non-profit management, specifically as a Volunteer Services Manager. Her work building relationships and engaging community members made for a natural transition to working with donors. She holds a BA in History and Women’s and Gender Studies from Winona State University
Outside of work, some of Naomi’s favorite things to do are: traveling, camping with friends, and spending time with her husband and dog.
Contact: naomi@ngongroad.org