how it all happened
Quiet Giants grew out of conversations Tom and Kathleen kept having with African leaders: conversations about strong work, real momentum, and the same persistent barriers to funding and growth. Again and again, they saw organizations delivering meaningful impact while struggling to access capital, navigate funder expectations, or sustainably scale their success—regardless of the impact they were having on the ground. The more they listened, the clearer it became: what was missing wasn’t capability, but practical, relationship-driven support that shifted how resources flow.
That’s why they built Quiet Giants.
Kathleen Rommel
Co-Founder
Kathleen Rommel is a strategist and partnership specialist who helps mission-driven organizations turn bold ideas into sustainable impact. With fifteen years of experience leading growth and communications across global development and philanthropy, she builds the strategies, stories, and relationships that move resources where they matter most.
Before launching Quiet Giants, Kathleen led partnerships at Raising The Village, Yamba Malawi, and Civic Builders, driving exponential growth, sector visibility, and lasting organizational strength. Her approach blends strategic clarity with creative storytelling and a deep commitment to ambition, evidence, and community-driven impact.
Kathleen holds a Master's Degree from Wake Forest University and a Bachelor's Degree from Georgetown University. As someone who “just can’t seem to sit still” (her family’s words, not hers), she enjoys running marathons, multi-day hikes that test her fear of heights, and making pottery. She lives in Brooklyn, New York with her partner and her rescue dog, Santa.
tom sessions
Co-Founder
Tom Sessions is a social innovator with over twenty years of experience leading fundraising, strategy, and growth across philanthropy, business, and social impact. He has worked with African leaders and global partners to design practical strategies that strengthen institutions, attract funding, and drive lasting systems change.
He holds a Master’s Degree in Business and Sociology from Glasgow University and has lived and worked in the US and UK, bringing a deep understanding of how donors and institutions operate across these markets. Tom has set up, managed, and led high-performing fundraising and partnerships teams in the UK, US, and across Africa, with a track record of mobilising resources and building capable, resilient organisations.
He has held senior roles with Living Goods, CARE International, UNICEF, and served on the board of a social enterprise, LiveWell, in Zambia.
Tom lives in the UK with his wife and their three football-crazy sons. He finds balance through time spent outdoors and on the slopes snowboarding, and his interest in embodied health and human potential has led him to train in classical acupuncture.
Racheal Mwenja
associate
Racheal is a fundraising and communications specialist with strong expertise in social media strategy and a passion for helping mission-driven organizations grow their visibility and impact. With a background in customer engagement, she brings a people-centered approach to communication, focusing on listening, connecting, and crafting stories that inspire action. At the heart of her work is a belief that thoughtful communication, whether through a campaign, a conversation, or a digital post, has the power to create meaningful and sustainable change.
She is a graduate of the ALX Virtual Assistant Programme, a Mastercard Foundation initiative that equips young professionals with essential digital and organizational skills to thrive in the modern workplace. Racheal is also currently enrolled in a year-long fundraising mentorship program to deepen her skills in donor engagement, proposal development, and storytelling for social impact.
Racheal lives in Nairobi, Kenya, and plays an integral role in connecting our work to the next generation of fundraising talent across Africa. Outside of work, she enjoys cooking traditional Kikuyu dishes and travelling to other African countries to experience the cultures and warmth of what she fondly calls her “beautiful neighbours.”
Extension team
Quiet Giants provides individualized support to nonprofits across fundraising, strategy, marketing, finance, M&E, and more.
While fundamental support is provided by our core team, we maintain a network of on-continent experts who are ready to support our partners when more in-depth support is needed.
If you are a specialist based in Africa and are interested in joining our network of extension support, email us at hello@quiet-giants.com.