Help us inspire and support lives of impact.  

YANA Town Halls provide an opportunity for mission-driven alums to exchange ideas and information to help achieve social impact. These events occur live at the Yale Club of NYC and via Zoom.

If attending in person, join us afterwards for cocktails in the Main Lounge. You don’t need to be a member of the Yale Club to join us!

Register now for our September event:

LAST CALL!

Sept. 25 | 6:30 PM ET - In-Person (Yale Club of NYC) & via Zoom

Jeannot Basima ‘27 and Josiah Brown ‘92 will explore the role of sports and advocacy in empowering at-risk youth. This conversation will highlight collaborative efforts to drive meaningful change in youth development from Goma, Congo, to Connecticut, showcasing how Yalies across generations are making a difference. Andrew Burgie ‘87, YANA Board Member, will be the guest host.

Special guest Alison Cole ‘99, the new Yale Alumni Association Executive Director, will join us to share her vision for the YAA.

Don't miss this opportunity for inspiration and insight!

Oct. 25 | In-Person (Yale Club of NYC) & via Livestream

At the YANA conference you’ll meet experts in nonprofit advocacy, fundraising, strategic planning, and AI, and learn the trends and best practices to magnify your impact. Plus, have fun meeting Yale alumni who share your passion for mission-driven work. Space is limited. Hurry! Room Block at the Yale Club ends September 26.

Securing individual donations is crucial with 67% of last year's $557 billion in donations coming from individuals. It’s also highly competitive. Non-religious organizations received 76% ($284 B), but the funds are spread across many sectors, making it difficult for your cause to break through.

Attend our expert panel to learn best practices for soliciting individual gifts. Gain insights on legacy gifts, social media strategies, and other proven tactics to increase donor support and build lasting donor relationships.

Rachel Hamalainen (moderator) is a Senior Vice President at CCS Fundraising where she partners with advocacy and education institutions to lead transformational fundraising campaigns with goals ranging from $10 million to $1 billion. She developed a growth plan for the Campaign Legal Center, resulting in its largest-ever donation. She also counseled the NAACP on its $600 million campaign and led major gift strategy for Carnegie Council’s record-breaking campaign. Prior to CCS, Rachel worked at the Open Society Foundations, coordinating funding on government accountability and civic engagement. She holds an MPA from NYU Wagner and a BA from Amherst College.

John Bacon '85 is the Deputy Chief Development Officer for Planned Giving at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, a position he has held since September 2017. Previously, he served as the Director of Planned Giving at The New York Public Library for 14 years, raising over $750 million in that time. John has a strong background in trust and estates law and has worked in museum and historic preservation fields. He serves on the boards of the Historic Districts Council and AFS-USA, and is a graduate of Yale College, the University of Delaware’s Winterthur Program, and Temple Law School.

Marc Ruben '02, Partner at M+R, has 20 years of experience launching fundraising, marketing, electoral, and volunteer programs for nonprofits. His clients include Planned Parenthood, NRDC, SEIU, Indivisible, Fight for $15, Doctors Without Borders, Oxfam America, and the American Cancer Society. In the early days of Internet organizing, Marc helped MoveOn.org organize one of the first digitally-driven national days of action. He also spent two years working on policy and communications around alternatives to incarceration and a year singing in professional choirs and playing guitar for babies.

Maria Griffin is the Chief Advancement Officer at DREAM, overseeing its fundraising and donor engagement strategy. With extensive nonprofit fundraising experience, she previously served as Vice President at CCS Fundraising, managing campaigns for organizations like UNICEF and Texas Children’s Hospital. Earlier, Maria worked at Teach For America and Leadership for Educational Equity, and served as a political coach for over 30 candidates, helping current and former teachers run for local office across the country. A Vanderbilt University graduate, she resides in Brooklyn and enjoys Broadway musicals and live music.

For more information including a conference schedule and speaker information visit our conference website.

Yale SOM’s student-run fund invests $50,000 in fintech Ezra, started by Yale grad, Dashell Laryea, supporting financial resilience for hourly workers. Open to graduate students across Yale, the fund includes a management team, presently composed of six SOM students, and four “deal” teams that seek out potential investment targets in the healthcare, climate, education, workforce development, and financial inclusion sectors.

Philanthropy must innovate to remain relevant, competitive, and impactful. Embracing change can amplify donor connections, optimize operations, and create a culture of philanthropy, ensuring long-term sustainability and mission success.

Amandla Development envisions a future where young people in Philippi, Cape Town, South Africa break free from the cycle of generational poverty, realize their dreams, and transform their communities. 

Thank You to Our Conference Sponsors!

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