Leading Teams ThroughTransformational Growth
Monday, November 9, 2026 | 5:30 - 7:30 PM
Action Against Hunger
1 Whitehall St. #2nd, New York, NY 10004
EXCLUSIVE PRESIDENT’S COUNCIL EVENT
Open to President’s Council Members only
Registration Fees
President's Council Members: $30
As development leaders, so many of us are navigating inflection points. Our organizations are stepping up to meet the moment, and we’re tasked with figuring out: How do we resource our organizations’ boldest aspirations? How do we move beyond the incremental to the transformational—in a way that is sustainable?
This session will feature insights from two Chief Development Officers who are leading transformational growth. They will share how they’ve approached developing their strategies, pipelines, and programs, as well as how they’ve built the teams and cultures to move them forward.
You will also have opportunities to share your experiences with peers and workshop ideas. We’ll all walk away with new ideas, tips, and encouragement.
Featured Panelists:
Bianca Derouene (Event Moderator), CEO, Aperio Philanthropy
Bianca founded Aperio Philanthropy in 2018 to simplify the path to revenue growth for nonprofits. She specializes in designing and launching streamlined business models that enable nonprofits to realize their fundraising potential—sustainably. She is an expert in fundraising strategic planning, organizational design, change management, and operations.
Prior to founding Aperio, Bianca helped lead the creation of a nationwide philanthropy program at The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) as Vice President, Donor Development Strategy & Operations. In partnership with the Chief Development Officer, Bianca designed and launched the new program, as well as two campaigns for special initiatives: a $35 million Beat AML campaign and a $100 million Children’s Initiative.
One driver of that success was Bianca’s creation of shared services for LLS’s 56 chapters. By providing fundraisers with turnkey collateral, templates, stewardship assets, data, and training, she drove efficiency and alignment. She partnered closely with regional and chapter leaders to localize major gift strategy.
Bianca began her fundraising career at the American Red Cross, where she served as an internal consultant, leader of special initiatives, and resource to affiliate chapters in the Northeast. As the liaison between the national office and chapter fundraisers, Bianca developed a talent for gaining buy-in and aligning stakeholders around common goals. Bianca helped lead disaster fundraising and recovery in the Northeast, including the $100 million response to SuperStorm Sandy in the Northeast.
Bianca holds an MS in Global Affairs from New York University and BAs in Economics and International Relations from Whitworth University.
Eric Bebernitz, Chief Development Officer, Action Against Hunger
As Action Against Hunger’s Chief Development Officer, Eric Bebernitz is responsible for driving the organization’s brand growth, communications, public relations, marketing, individual giving, and high-impact private partnerships. These activities aim to inspire and provide opportunities for people to take part in the global movement to end hunger.
Before joining Action Against Hunger, Eric applied his fundraising, communications, and brand-building expertise at the International Rescue Committee, Earthjustice, and the International Planned Parenthood Federation.
Eric earned his bachelor’s degree in History from the University at Buffalo and a master’s degree in Folklore from the University of Oregon. He is based out of Action Against Hunger’s office in New York City.
Yael Gottlieb, SVP and Chief Development Officer, Americares
Americares Senior Vice President and Chief Development Officer Yael Gottlieb provides strategic leadership and hands-on tactical fundraising for Americares health programs and disaster response work worldwide. She leads all corporate, foundation and individual giving, including $1 billion in annual product donations from pharmaceutical and medical supply companies.
Gottlieb has more than two decades of nonprofit leadership experience, including extensive expertise in fundraising, organizational strategy and global development. She joined Americares Development team in 2021 as a deputy senior vice president in charge of individual philanthropy, planned giving, foundation relations and donor stewardship. In 2024, her role was expanded to include corporate giving, cause marketing and enterprise partnerships.
Prior to joining Americares, Gottlieb served as vice president of development at the Institute for Sustainable Communities, overseeing fundraising for programs that created, implemented and scaled equitable climate change mitigation and resilience solutions. Prior to that, Gottlieb served as vice president of development and communications for the International Women’s Health Coalition in New York, an organization that promoted and protected the sexual and reproductive rights and health of women and young people, particularly in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Gottlieb also spent more than a decade with Human Rights Watch in New York and New Delhi, including serving as senior director of global development strategy, director of South Asia outreach and senior grant writer and manager of foundation relations.
Gottlieb earned a bachelor’s degree in anthropology and a master’s degree in public administration, international nonprofit management and public policy from New York University.