Donella Wilson

Donella Wilson, CPA, leads GHJ’s Nonprofit Practice and has over 25 years of public accounting experience providing audit, accounting and special project services and works exclusively in the nonprofit sector. She is also President and Chief Philanthropy Officer for GHJ Foundation, GHJ’s vehicle for purposeful and proactive giving to the community.

A leader in both the nonprofit and accounting communities, Donella was recognized as a 2018 “Women Executive of the Year” and a 2017-2020 “Most Influential Women in Accounting” by the Los Angeles Business Journal. In 2018 she was also awarded the “Soroptomist Award” by Soroptimist International of Los Angeles (SILA). In 2017, Donella was also the recipient of a CalCPA “Women to Watch” Award, as well as the Trailblazer Award for her charitable activities. That year she was also honored as a Southern California Leadership Network (SCLN) “30-in-30,” a year-long celebration honoring 30 outstanding SCLN alumni throughout 2017. Committed to ending homelessness for women, Donella is immediate past president and board member of the Board of Directors of the Downtown Women’s Center and a member of the Southern California Grantmakers Corporate Leadership Council. Additionally, Donella is a member of the California Society of CPAs and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Prior to joining GHJ in 2000, Donella worked as a qualified South African chartered accountant for an international accounting firm in Cape Town before relocating to England. In England, Donella worked in private industry, primarily for telecommunications and television companies, where she provided management accounting and special project services.

Donella obtained a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Cape Town, South Africa and further obtained post-graduate diplomas in accounting and taxation.

Donella enjoys volunteer work, travel and outdoor adventure, with yoga and backpacking being her favorite past-times.