AI in Action
October 1, 2025 | 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.
Join Women In Development NYC for a morning of networking, learning, and engagement. The event will start with a networking reception of coffee and light pastries, followed by a moderated panel discussion featuring AI users of various development roles to showcase a variety of AI use cases that any role or organization can use! Bring your business cards and your fundraising colleagues!
Hosted By
Uncommon Schools
100 Church St., 9th Floor, New York, NY 10007
Early Bird Registration (Ends September 17th)
Regular Rate Registration (Closes September 30th)
$25 for Young Professional & Student Members
$35 for Members | $45 for Non-Members
Light breakfast will be served
Event Agenda
Featured Panelists
Digital Marketing Specialist
Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors
As the Digital Marketing Specialist at Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors (RPA), Victoria spearheads various digital marketing initiatives, content creation, market analysis, and brand management. Before joining RPA in 2025, she worked in varying Marketing capacities at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, with a focus on content creation, copywriting, graphic design, and special projects related to audience engagement and cultivation. She holds an M.S. in Nonprofit Management from Columbia University and a B.A. In Art History from Barnard College.
At Development Guild, in addition to her responsibilities as an executive search and fundraising consultant, Guirlaine serves as a moderator for BIG Question—a live, community-powered planning tool capable of engaging up to a million participants in real-time. Harnessing her facilitation skills, data-driven mindset, and gift for making every voice feel heard, on BIG Question, she guides mission-driven organizations through their most complex strategic and fundraising challenges, translating collective insights into clear, actionable next steps. She also heads Development Guild’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion program, thoughtfully leveraging AI to craft company-wide learning experiences and provide the human resources department with ongoing guidance to ensure the culture and policies remain equitable and inclusive.
Before joining Development Guild, Guirlaine held key fundraising positions at several nonprofit and educational organizations, including Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York, Cambridge in America (which promotes in the United States interest in and support for the University of Cambridge, England), UNICEF USA, and the Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding.
Guirlaine received a Master of Arts in Biology from Hofstra University. She earned her bachelor’s degree in molecular genetics from the University of Rochester, where she is an active alumna and currently serves on the Black Alumni Network Executive Committee. She is a committed member of Women of Color in Fundraising and Philanthropy (WOC).
Both for personal and professional use, Guirlaine continues to experiment with and responsibly harness the power of AI to serve humanity.
Katherine Sarci-Tucker Director of Institutional Giving, Uncommon Schools Grants/Institutional Giving AI User
Katherine M. Sarci-Tucker, MS, CFRE, is a dedicated and results-driven development professional with more than 10 years of experience helping mission-driven organizations achieve their fundraising goals. Currently serving as the Director of Institutional Giving at Uncommon Schools, she oversees a team responsible for generating millions in annual revenue from foundations, corporations, and government grants. Her expertise includes leading fundraising campaigns, managing high-value donor portfolios, and developing effective stewardship processes. A Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), she has held key roles at institutions such as the New York Hall of Science, The New School, and Columbia University, where she honed her skills in donor relations, grant compliance, and strategic communications. Katherine earned her Master of Science in Nonprofit Management from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Arts in French Literature from Oberlin College.
Zoe Stein Regional Gift Officer, Cornell University Frontline Fundraiser AI user
Zoe Stein is a Regional Gift Officer on Cornell University's Discovery Team. She focuses on identifying and cultivating potential major gift prospects across the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, and New York Metro areas. In her role, she has conducted hundreds of qualification meetings and successfully secured five and six-figure gifts while bolstering the pipeline of major gift donors to areas across Cornell’s campus.
Zoe brings a diversity of industry experience to her work in higher education development, including her background as a professional ballet dancer, management and sales at Taglialatella Galleries, and administration at the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum. She serves as an advisor to the board of the Krueger Foundation and as a class volunteer for the Spence School. She earned her BA in Art History and Archaeology from Washington University in St. Louis.
Zoe is an early adopter of using AI tools to develop efficient and innovative approaches to development work. As a super user amongst her team, she has led one-on-one sessions to assist colleagues as they explore using AI in their work.
Moderator
Tiffany Christopher
Director of Development, Discovery Program
Cornell University
With over 14 years in the development industry, Tiffany Christopher currently serves as the Director of Development for the Discovery Program at Cornell University where she also fundraises as a major gift officer. She spearheads the strategic vision of the team, focusing on a dual mission: to identify and grow future major donors to the organization and to develop industry talent into proficient gift officers prepared for successive roles in development. Holding an MBA from Cornell, Tiffany is passionate about business strategy, team culture, onboarding, and leadership. She is particularly committed to making the field of development more inclusive and supportive for new professionals of all backgrounds.
The Giving Outlook:
Strategies for Fundraising Success in 2025–2026
October 3, 2025 | 12:00 - 1:30 p.m. | Virtual
WID Members FREE | Non-Members $20
This event will not be recorded
Giving USA 2025 recently reported on a reassuring upward philanthropic trajectory. However, since then, new developments affecting both local and international nonprofits, have occurred in 2025. What are the implications of the findings and subsequent events on the philanthropic landscape and fundraising? Prasad Consulting & Research President Poonam Prasad, who serves on the board of the Giving Institute, Editorial Review Board of Giving USA will coordinate a conversation on findings and trends from the 2025 Giving USA report and other recent surveys. She will be joined by a leading expert in wealth and philanthropy who will offer perspective on donor behavior and emerging trends in high-net-worth giving. A panel of senior development executives will share their reactions to the data and discuss best practices for driving philanthropic success throughout 2025 and into 2026.
Panelists
This event is FREE to WID Members!
Not a WID Member? Join or renew today!
Karaugh Brown joined the Whitney in 2024 as the Chief Advancement Officer leading the planning, management, and success of the Whitney’s comprehensive fundraising efforts, including individual and planned giving, corporate membership and sponsorship, special events, foundation and government grants, donor stewardship, and Board of Trustee relations.
Prior to the Whitney, Brown mostly recently served as the Vice President of Development and Partnerships at World Monuments Fund (WMF) where she oversaw all aspects of fundraising at WMF's global headquarters in New York. She has also held positions at The Frick Collection, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, MA where she was part of the team that opened the museum’s Renzo Piano-designed wing in 2012. She serves as co-chair of the Career Advancement Network for the Economic Empowerment Program at Sanctuary for Families; vice chair of the American Board of Ambassadors for An Taisce, the National Trust for Ireland; and is a volunteer guide for Achilles International. She holds a B.A. in English and Art History and an M.A. in art history, both from Boston University.
Melanie Buhrmaster is a seasoned nonprofit leader with over 30 years of experience driving mission-focused strategies that deliver measurable impact. With deep expertise in fundraising, strategic planning, and stakeholder engagement, she has led transformative campaigns and donor initiatives that have fueled organizational growth. Her career has been defined by a passion for addressing food insecurity and expanding access to education—causes that deeply resonate with her own life experience. Known for her collaborative leadership style, Melanie excels at aligning teams, board members, and donors around a shared vision. She has a proven ability to turn high-level strategy into actionable plans, consistently exceeding goals while cultivating strong, trust-based relationships. A dedicated mentor, she is committed to empowering the next generation of nonprofit professionals. Melanie’s unique blend of heart and strategy continues to make a lasting difference across the philanthropic landscape.
Elaine Chu is a vice president of Philanthropic Strategies for Fidelity Charitable®, an independent 501(c)(3) public charity that has helped donors support more than 433,000 nonprofit organizations with more than $100 billion in grants.1 The mission of Fidelity Charitable® is to grow the American tradition of philanthropy by providing programs that make charitable giving accessible, simple, and effective.
Since 2022, Elaine has led a team of Philanthropic Strategists in the Private Donor Group that advises Fidelity Charitable’s most generous donors on how they can use their charitable resources to meaningfully advance the causes they care about. This involves structuring giving designs and approaches, clarifying values, mission, and goals, exploring family philanthropy such as next-generation engagement and succession planning, and identifying new funding opportunities to achieve the greatest social impact.
Elaine has over 25 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, with various leadership positions centered on collaborative partnerships, fundraising, and organizational development. Prior to joining Fidelity Charitable, Elaine worked at Seattle Foundation, one of the nation’s largest community foundations. She was the director of Philanthropic Services, serving as the expert in family and next-gen philanthropy. She developed frameworks for collaborative funding and learning as well as family and youth philanthropy. Currently, she is a board member for Green River College, a public community college focused on global workforce development and civic engagement.
Poonam Prasad
Founder and President, Prasad Consulting & Research
Poonam Prasad is a nationally recognized fundraising strategist and president of Prasad Consulting & Research, which has helped hundreds of nonprofits worldwide raise billions of dollars from individuals, foundations, and corporations. A past president of WID-NY and recipient of AFP-NYC’s 2024 Chamberlain Award for Distinguished Service, she serves on the Board of the Giving Institute and advises Women of Color in Fundraising and Philanthropy and the Women’s Coaching Alliance. A former professor at NYU and Columbia University, and a sought-after speaker at nonprofit conferences nationwide she has trained and mentored thousands of fundraising professionals. Before her nonprofit career, she worked internationally as an investigative journalist, advertising copywriter, and public relations professional.
SAVE THE DATE
WID Connect: Conversations That Count
Thursday, October 23, 2025 | 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Join Women In Development New York for a structured networking event focused on building authentic connections and community. Dive into meaningful conversations on career transitions, authentic online presence, multigenerational teamwork, fundraising consulting, and remembering your why amid nonprofit challenges.
Connect with fellow WID members, share experiences, and gain fresh perspectives to navigate today’s evolving nonprofit world—together.
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!
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.
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Rising Stars in Development
Thursday, November 13, 2025 | 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
$20 for Young Professional & Student Members
$25 for Members | $35 for Non-Members
Registration Closes November 12th at 4:00 p.m.
NYU University Development and Alumni Relations
115 5th Ave, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10012