Empowering People, Increasing Impact

Ilir Zherka has real-world experience developing strategies, increasing capacity, and leading advocacy campaigns.

Ilir has worked in the U.S. Congress, on presidential campaigns, and as a political appointee. He has also served as the executive director of four organizations and is the author of Winning the Inside Game: The Handbook of Advocacy Strategies. 

As an organizational leader, Ilir assembled and led diverse coalitions that achieved significant goals: U.S. intervention to stop ethnic cleansing in Kosovo, bi-partisan support for D.C. voting rights, and record-level congressional funding for international exchange programs. He played an integral part in crafting the strategic plans that made that work possible. 

Once the plans were in place, Ilir successfully developed and led educational programs, targeted media engagement, ambitious fundraising efforts, partnerships with key government officials, broad stakeholder coalitions, and robust advocacy campaigns. He now utilizes his past experience to empower Civica’s clients and increase their impact.