Mapping the Legacy: A Planned Giving Panel
Thursday, September 17, 2026 | 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
$20 for Young Professionals & Students
$30 for Members | $40 for Non-Members
Registration Closes September 16th at 5:00 p.m.
Space is Limited
The Center
LGBTQ+ Community Center
208 W 13 St, Room 310
New York, NY 10011
From first conversation to lasting legacy — three experts map out how planned gifts really come together.
Join Women in Development, New York for a panel discussion that traces that journey from start to finish, featuring a nonprofit planned giving officer, a financial planner, and an estate planning attorney — each playing a critical role along the way.
Together, they'll walk through how a planned gift takes shape: from the donor's first spark of intention, through the financial and legal planning that gives it structure, to the moment it becomes part of an organization's legacy. Attendees will leave with a 360-degree, holistic understanding of the planned giving process and the professionals who help bring it to life.
Featured Panelists
Katherine Pooser, Director of Planned Giving at the Cancer Research Institute and President of the Planned Giving Group of Greater New York (PPGGNY)
Katherine is a results-driven fundraising professional with nearly two decades of experience in the nonprofit sector. Her career demonstrates a consistent track record of providing strategic and visionary leadership across a diverse portfolio of organizations, including youth development, performing arts, health care, medical research, and civil rights. She is currently the Director of Planned Giving at the Cancer Research Institute and President of the Planned Giving Group of Greater New York (PPGGNY).
Katherine is a Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP®) and holds degrees in Economics (BS) and Public Administration (MPA). She is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer whose service was in West Africa. Committed to improving the nonprofit sector, she hosts Asking for Good, a podcast dedicated to launching and navigating nonprofit careers.
Ola Aladenika, CFP, Bridgewater Advisors
Ola graduated from The City College of New York in 2014 with a degree in Psychology. After college, he moved to New Hampshire to work with a non-profit ministry focused on community service. When the COVID-19 pandemic forced the non-profit to shut down, Ola decided to pivot into a new field where he could continue making a difference: personal finance.
Ola started his career at Bridgewater Advisors, a fee-only wealth management firm. During his time there, he earned the CFP® designation. At Bridgewater, he’s had the chance to not only work closely with clients (individuals, families, and non-profit organizations), but also share his knowledge with the community, helping others improve their financial well-being. His passion for helping others remains a key motivator in both his professional and personal life.
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.
Finance for Fundraisers: Part 2
Nonprofit Financial Statements
Tuesday, September 22, 2026
9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. | Virtual
Young Professionals & Students: $15
Members: $25 | Non-Members: $35
Registration Closes on Monday, September 21st 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 — Nonprofit Financial Statements and build the confidence to read, interpret, and use your organization's financial statements with clarity.
Missed Part 1? Register today and receive access to the recording so you can catch up before Parts 2 & 3.
Led by Joanne Curry, Head of Client Success & Principal at Creative Fundraising Advisors, this session explores nonprofit financial statements and the key information they contain — from grant applications and budget narratives to annual reporting. You'll learn how to read a Statement of Financial Position and Statement of Activities with confidence, identify the numbers funders and boards care about most, and translate financial data into clear, compelling narratives.
If financial statements have ever felt like a foreign language, this workshop will help you speak it fluently.
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.
AI in Practice
October 1, 2026 | 8:15 - 10:00 a.m. | Uncommon Schools
A Panel discussion featuring AI superusers in various fundraising roles highlighting how they use AI to build relationships, boost creativity, and strategize.
Hosted By
Uncommon Schools
100 Church St., 9th Floor, New York, NY 10007
Event Agenda
Finance for Fundraisers:
Development Budgets
Part 3
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
Registration Closes on Tuesday, September 19h at 4:00 p.m.
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.
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.