Finance for Fundraisers:
Development Budgets
Part 3
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. | Virtual
Young Professionals & Students: $15
Members: $25 | Non-Members: $35
Registration Closes on Tuesday, September 19h at 4:00 p.m.
A Zoom link will be sent one day prior to the event.
Join our upcoming WID Workshop: Finance for Fundraisers — Development Budgets, a session designed to give you the tools to lead your department's budgeting process from the ground up. Missed Part 1? Register today and receive access to the recording so you can catch up before Part 3.
Led by Joanne Curry, Head of Client Success & Principal at Creative Fundraising Advisors, this session shares practical tips for initiating your development department's budgeting process — from incorporating historical data and determining realistic assumptions, to setting expectations for your fundraising team in the coming fiscal year. You'll leave with a clear framework for building an achievable budget and a strong story to tell finance and leadership about how your team plans to get there.
If budgeting season has ever felt overwhelming or reactive, this workshop will help you approach it with a plan.
Joanne comes to CFA with over 10 years of nonprofit experience in operations management, development, and accounting. Her career began with serving as Director of Operations and Rehearsal Assistant for two contemporary ballet companies in Missouri: Missouri Contemporary Ballet and Owen/Cox Dance Group. There, she managed operations for fundraising and donor management, communications and marketing, and performance and educational outreach programs. She then went on to work as a Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor Accountant with Support Kansas City, providing accounting, support services, and training to nonprofits throughout Kansas City.
Joanne served as the Head of Revenue and Interim Head of Development at the McNay Art Museum in San Antonio, TX. There, she oversaw strategy for earned revenue and development, and was responsible for the database, Membership, Special Events, Visitor Services, and Museum Store. During her time at the McNay, Joanne launched a monthly membership program and developed and implemented a prospect management system.
As CFA’s Head of Client Success & Principal, Joanne leads the Client Success team, ensuring that all aspects of CFA’s client partnerships are grounded in the company’s core values of collaboration, transparency, integrity, creativity, and change.
Joanne provides CFA’s clients with counsel on campaign planning and management, prospect development and strategy, and fundraising programs. She serves as an accountability partner for clients, grounded in her expertise in mentoring development staff and team leadership coaching.
A native of Port Jefferson, New York, Joanne holds a BFA in Ballet Performance and Teaching from the University of Utah. She currently resides in New Jersey with her husband and rescue dog.
Women In Development, New York (WID) accepts refund requests made in writing at least five (5) business days prior to the event. Registration fees are not refundable after this date. Nonrefundable ticket purchases may not be used as credits towards future WID events.
By registering for this Women In Development, New York event, I give consent for my photograph to be taken and possibly used on the organization’s intranet, internet, newsletters, board reports, and other organizational materials as needed. I understand that I am not eligible for compensation for use of my photo and I may not be informed in advance of the specific use of those images.
WID Connect: Conversations That Count
Thursday, October 22, 2026 | 6:00 - 8:00 PM
Robin Hood
826 Broadway 9th Floor, New York, NY 10003
Registration Fees
Member: $45 | Non-Member: $55
Young Professional & Students: $35
Join Women In Development New York for a structured networking event focused on building authentic connections and community. This October, we're digging into the conversations shaping our field right now — from preparing for the greatest wealth transfer in history, to fundraising under new pressures around free expression, to making the case for the arts when budgets and attention are stretched thin.
Connect with fellow WID members, share experiences, and gain fresh perspectives to navigate today's evolving nonprofit landscape—together. Ready to be part of the conversation?
You will have the opportunity to participate in two of the following engaging roundtable discussions led by a facilitator:
The Handoff: Preparing Donors, Heirs, and Ourselves
Trillions of dollars are expected to change hands over the next two decades as wealth passes to younger generations. This table explores what that means for fundraisers. How do we build relationships with next-gen donors and heirs? How do we steward multigenerational family giving without losing the original donor's intent? What does it take to be ready when that transfer happens on our watch?
Dawn L. Williams serves as the Executive Director of Planned Giving at Barnard College. As seasoned fundraising professional, she brings an extensive background in college student development and community development to her work; knowledge she finds important to building meaningful relationships and fostering impactful philanthropy. Beyond her work at Barnard, Dawn is a practicing visual artist who finds endless inspiration in the world around her. She finds nothing better than spending a day immersed in the energy of NYC’s streets or exploring new destinations near and far.
The Quiet Part Out Loud: Fundraising When Words Are Risky
As political and cultural pressures increasingly shape what organizations can say, and who they can serve, fundraisers are being asked to navigate new constraints around messaging, mission, and public voice. This conversation digs into how development professionals are adapting their language, donor conversations, and public communications while staying true to their organization's mission.
Pamela Ellerman, Senior Director of Institutional Giving, CAMBA
Stay tuned for more details about our final roundtable facilitator!
Culture Under Pressure: Funding the Arts in Crisis
When budgets tighten and urgent needs dominate the headlines, arts and culture organizations often find themselves fighting for relevance and dollars. This table is a space for arts fundraisers to share strategies for articulating why the arts matter, especially when the world feels like it's on fire.
Kathleen Germann is a nonprofit advancement leader with more than two decades of experience in fundraising, donor engagement, and organizational growth across the arts, culture, music, and higher education. Kathleen currently serves as the inaugural Director of Development at 54 Below, where she’s leading the organization’s transition from a commercial performing arts venue to a nonprofit institution. Previously, Kathleen held development leadership roles at Jazz at Lincoln Center, Barnard College of Columbia University, Town Hall, and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, managing major gift portfolios and creating successful annual giving and donor and alumni engagement programs.
Proving It: Impact, Perception, and the Story We Tell Donors
As public trust in institutions wavers and donors increasingly want to see that their gifts matter, fundraisers are under growing pressure to demonstrate impact in real time. This table explores the gap between what our organizations actually do and how donors perceive that work. How do we communicate impact honestly without oversimplifying complex outcomes? How do we handle donor skepticism or the perception that nonprofits are inefficient or opaque? And how do we tell a compelling story without overpromising results we can't guarantee?
Jessica Shearer is the Chief Marketing and Communications Officer of YAI, a national nonprofit that supports people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). Jess joined YAI in 2024, bringing more than 20 years of experience in marketing and communications for nonprofit and for-profit organizations.Prior to joining YAI, she served as Managing Director of Marketing and Communications for KIPP New Jersey and KIPP Miami, a network of public charter schools, during a period when the network grew from 8 to 22 schools. Before that, she was Vice President, Director of Marketing for MikeWorldWide, where her team was recognized as Marketing Department/Team of the Year multiple times by the American Business Awards and International Business Awards. Jess has been honored by the 2026 Stevie Awards for Women in Business as a winner in both the Female Executive of the Year and Woman of the Year categories. At YAI, Jess leads the organization's efforts to tell honest, human stories about people with I/DD — work that has shaped how the nonprofit communicates its mission to donors, families, and the public.
Love the One You’re With: The Value of Donor Stewardship
The most sustainable path to increased giving is not always finding new donors: it is deepening relationships with the donors you already have. This discussion will explore the importance of donor stewardship as a strategic and meaningful practice that keeps supporters connected to an organization’s mission over time. By “loving the one you’re with,” organizations can shift from transactional fundraising to relationship-centered engagement. This conversation will examine how intentional stewardship fosters long-term partnerships, enhances donor retention, and ultimately creates a stronger culture of philanthropy.
Tina Genoves-Cherena is a fundraising and nonprofit leader with more than 25 years of experience in development operations, donor relations, and fundraising strategy. Throughout her career, she has partnered with organizational leaders and fundraising teams to strengthen donor engagement and develop strategies for prospect identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship, while building the systems and operations that support successful fundraising programs. She is President and Founder of The Collaborative Edge Strategies, a consulting practice focused on organizational strategy, leadership, and nonprofit effectiveness. Tina is also a Ph.D. candidate in Leadership and Change Management at Antioch University.
Redefining Relationship Labor: The Warmth Tax in Major Gifts
Major Gift Officers often find themselves balancing the art of relationship-building with the challenge of navigating complex interpersonal dynamics. This can mean having their professional expertise subtly underestimated, managing over-familiar or personal behavior from donors, or feeling an unspoken expectation to provide "relational glue" that keeps partnerships warm and productive. By naming these dynamics openly, fundraisers can share strategies for setting respectful limits, reinforcing professional authority, and ensuring that relationship labor is recognized, valued, and equally shared with their organizations.
Jamie Lee is an executive coach who works with marginalized leaders who are “allergic” to office politics. She focuses on helping them get promoted and better paid without compromising their integrity or throwing anyone under the bus. As a coach, she blends proven self-advocacy strategies with evidence-based neuroplasticity tools. A South Korean immigrant, Jamie first learned the value of self-advocacy from the example of her mother, who single-handedly raised three daughters while running a nail salon and speaking broken English in New Jersey. Over a decade, Jamie has trained thousands of professionals in effective self-advocacy at leading organizations, including Citi, Unilever, Association of Corporate Counsels, American College of Cardiologists, UC Berkeley School of Business, and Smith College, among others.
Please select two roundtables that you would like to participate in. We will make every effort to accommodate your choices.
Priority will be given to early registrants.
To ensure participants have an opportunity to learn and ask questions SPACE WILL BE LIMITED.
For security reasons, tickets are not transferable, and onsite registration will not be available.
Leading Teams Through Transformational 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
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.
WID & Staffing Boutique Presents
Fundraising Basics for Charter Schools
and Emerging Institutions
Tuesday, November 10, 2026 | 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Paramount Club
1301 6th Avenue
New York, NY 10019
Young Professional & Student - $20
Member Rate - $30 | Non-Member - $40
Registration Closes November 9 at 4:00 p.m.
Join us for a morning of networking and an engaging discussion on development best practices for charter schools and emerging nonprofits. Whether you’re launching your organization’s first fundraising effort or strengthening an established program, you’ll gain practical strategies to deepen donor engagement, build organizational capacity, and support long-term financial sustainability.
We’ll explore key challenges facing growing organizations, from donor retention and staffing to developing achievable fundraising plans that engage leadership and the board. Come connect with peers, share experiences, and leave with actionable ideas to strengthen your fundraising strategy.
We hope you’ll join the conversation!
Breakfast will be served. Space is limited.
Read About Our Moderator and Panelists
Dana Scurlock (Event Moderator), Managing Director of Staffing, Staffing Boutique is a veteran recruitment specialist with over 18 years of experience placing the right people in the right jobs. She has worked with clients of varying sizes and made placements at every level of recruitment from frontline workers to executive searches. This extensive knowledge, strong relationships, and industry know-how specific to the nonprofit sector makes Dana an invaluable member of Staffing Boutique’s leadership team. She earned her BA in English Literature & Theatre from The Ohio State University.
Julie Wolpov, Head of Development, Uncommon Schools, is bringing nearly two decades of executive experience in nonprofit fundraising and strategic growth. Her career spans leadership roles across education, youth development, workforce development, and community organizations, including leadership positions Foundation for Jewish Camp, and JCC Manhattan, as well as nearly eight years leading principal gifts and regional philanthropy at Year Up. Julie specializes in major gift strategy, donor stewardship, and building sustainable, relationship-driven funding models that scale mission driven impact.
Maria Griffin, Founder and Principal, Griffin Associated, Former Chief Advancement Officer of DREAM Charter Schools
Maria Griffin is the Founder and Principal of Griffin Associated, a boutique fundraising consultancy with a bold goal: to raise $1 billion for causes and leaders changing the world. Through strategy, coaching, and hands-on partnership, she helps nonprofits and their leaders achieve transformational fundraising results. Previously, Maria served as Chief Advancement Officer of DREAM (formerly Harlem RBI), where she led a 15-person advancement team responsible for raising approximately $20 million annually. Prior to DREAM, she was a Vice President at CCS Fundraising, leading fundraising planning, campaign strategy, and development initiatives for organizations including UNICEF, KIPP Foundation, and the Fund for Public Health in New York City. She began her career with Teach For America and later worked at Leadership for Educational Equity, where she coached current and former educators, including activist and educator DeRay Mckesson, as they pursued public leadership and elected office. Maria serves on the Board of the Fund for Public Health in NYC, is a former Board member of Emerge New York, and is a graduate of Vanderbilt University. She now calls Brooklyn home.
Amy Gazley, Founder, ARG Fundraising Consultants is an accomplished fundraising professional with over 23 years of experience dedicated to advancing mission-driven non-profits. As the founder of ARG Fundraising Consultants, she leverages her deep expertise in major gifts, corporate partnerships, capital campaigns, and strategic development to help organizations and schools secure the resources needed to thrive. Since 2019, Amy has applied her fundraising expertise to support the Rosalyn Yalow Charter School in its mission to close the student achievement gap for elementary and now middle school students in the South Bronx. Her efforts contributed to the vital funding required for growing and sustaining the school’s resource-intensive model, which includes a low 8:1 student-teacher ratio and specialized response-to-intervention programs for English language learners and special needs students. This sustainable funding enables the delivery of a rigorous curriculum which incorporates Singapore Math, chess, violin, chorus, art, and fencing to help Yalow students consistently outperform city and state averages.
Thank you to our Program Sponsor
Don't forget to follow us on Women In Development's social media channels for updates and share this event with your network. Together, we can make a difference!
Rising Stars
From Coordinator to Director: Building Your Fundraising Career
Monday, November 16, 2026
5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
NYU Office of Alumni Relations
115 5th Ave, New York, NY 10003
Registration Fees:
Young Professional & Students Non-member: $40
Member: $45 | Non-member: $50
What does it really take to advance your career in fundraising? This candid conversation will explore the decisions and strategies that can help you move from Coordinator to Director—from knowing when to stay or make a move, to gaining management experience, expanding your skill set, and avoiding getting pigeonholed in one area of development. Whether you’re looking to take your next step or map out your long-term career path, this discussion will offer practical insights to help you build a fulfilling and successful fundraising career.
Stay tuned for more details!
Making Every Move Matter:
A Moves Management Master Class
Thursday, November 19, 2026
12:00 p.m. - 1:15 p.m. | Virtual
Registration Closes on Wednesday, November 18 at 4:00 p.m.
Join Jennifer de Lannoy, Assistant Vice President of Leadership Giving at Teachers College, Columbia University, for an engaging master class on the strategy behind effective moves management. Drawing on her extensive experience in major gifts, development operations, donor relations, and frontline fundraising, Jennifer will share best practices for building thoughtful donor strategies, creating meaningful momentum, and ensuring every interaction moves a relationship forward.
The session will explore how to approach moves management with greater intention, from strategic planning and prioritization to coordinating touchpoints and measuring progress, while keeping the ultimate goal in focus: deepening relationships and maximizing philanthropic impact. Participants will leave with practical strategies and a more purposeful framework for turning day-to-day donor engagement into long-term results.
Jennifer brings more than 13 years of experience at Columbia University, along with her current leadership role at Teachers College, and is known for her data-driven, process-oriented approach and commitment to mentorship and collaboration.
Panelist
Jennifer de Lannoy is Assistant Vice President of Leadership Giving at Teachers College, Columbia University. In this role she is deeply embedded in the philanthropic work of the College, developing important relationships on behalf of the institution, working in collaboration with TC’s institutional leaders, academic programs and centers, and leading a team of frontline fundraisers, working in major gifts, leadership giving, planned giving and corporate and foundation relations.
Prior to joining TC, Jennifer spent more than thirteen years at Columbia University's Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, where she most recently served as Senior Director of Development Operations and Alumni Engagement overseeing a comprehensive portfolio of strategic functions, including raising major gifts; donor relations; industry partnerships; development operations; and alumni relations for a network of more than 50,000 individuals. Jennifer is known for fostering excellence, mentorship, and a collaborative culture. She brings a data-driven and process-oriented approach to her work.
Jennifer holds an M.B.A. from Columbia Business School and a B.A. from Barnard College. She is an active volunteer in the Barnard College Alumnae Association and the Tuckahoe Union Free School District, where she supports PTA and SEPTA initiatives.
SAVE THE DATE
WID Virtual Career Fair
Join WID to learn about exciting opportunities in the Development field. Attendees will be able to connect and network with recruiters and hiring managers.
Thursday, December 10, 2026
9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
FREE for WID Member | $25 for Non-Members
Attendee Registration Closes on December 9th at 2:00 p.m.
LOOKING FOR A JOB?
Join us at WID's Virtual Career Fair to learn about opportunities listed in WID’s exclusive Job Bank. Register Today to chat with the individuals who are filling those positions.
LOOKING TO FILL A POSITION?
List your position in the Job Bank and share information about your organization and the open position with the WID audience. Then, host a Zoom room to speak directly with potential candidates about the position.
Participation as a site requires that at least one showcased position be posted on the WID Job Bank.