CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE, TOGETHER!
YANA Wins Record-Breaking 11th Excellence Award!
Video by Brian Hammerstein ’85
Yale Alumni Association Board of Governors Excellence Award
We’re thrilled to share that the Yale Alumni Association (YAA) Board of Governors honored YANA with an Excellence Award, recognizing our 2023 Generation-to-Generation Gala as an outstanding in-person event. This milestone marks YANA’s 11th Excellence Award in 12 years, a record-breaking achievement that reflects our sustained leadership in governance, programming, and events.
This latest recognition highlights the incredible power of teamwork and innovation in advancing YANA’s mission to connect and empower social impact leaders across generations. Previous awards recognized milestones such as obtaining 501(c)(3) status to hosting transformative programs and events. Each award celebrates the dedication and passion of our remarkable community.
Kristin Urquiza ’03 proudly accepted the award on behalf of YANA during the YAA Awards Ceremony at Assembly and Convocation in New Haven last week. This honor belongs to every member of the YANA family who has contributed to our shared success over the past decade.
Thank you for being part of this journey. Together, we’re building a brighter, more impactful future—one award-winning effort at a time!
Grateful for You
Members of YANA’s Board, YANA Chapter Leaders, and friends break bread with YANA Student Leaders in New Haven as part of Assembly and Convocation.
Dear YANA Community,
As we celebrate YANA’s latest award, this season of Thanksgiving provides an opportunity to reflect on the profound role gratitude plays in our lives and achievements. Dr. Laurie Santos, Yale professor and renowned expert on the science of happiness, reminds us that gratitude is a cornerstone of well-being. Her groundbreaking course, The Science of Well-Being, has inspired millions to cultivate a mindset of gratitude and joy.
I am deeply thankful for every board member, volunteer, and supporter who has helped YANA achieve so much over the past 12 years. Your passion, dedication, and teamwork inspire everything we do, from hosting impactful events to advancing our mission of empowering social impact leaders. This award—and every one before it—is a testament to the power of our collective effort.
As Dr. Santos’ research shows, gratitude not only strengthens connections but also improves our own well-being. This Thanksgiving, I invite you to celebrate not just YANA’s achievements, but also your own. Take a moment to reflect on what brings you joy and connection—and treat yourself to Dr. Santos’ free course, The Science of Well-Being, available on Coursera.
Thank you for being an integral part of YANA’s journey. Wishing you a joyful and meaningful Thanksgiving. Together, we celebrate excellence, community, and the opportunities ahead!
Kristin Urquiza ‘03
YANA Executive Director
P.S. It’s important to reflect on the complex history of Thanksgiving. One way to honor the land we live on is to learn more about its original stewards. I encourage you to visit native-land.ca to explore this topic further. Acknowledging a fuller history of the founding of our country is a step toward deeper understanding and respect.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Save the Date: YANA hosts American Exchange Project’s David McCullough III ‘17 on December 5 at Yale!
Dec. 5 | In-Person – Rose Alumni House
232 York St, New Haven, CT 06511
To connect our divided country, The American Exchange Project sends high school seniors on a free, week-long trip to a hometown very different from their own. In 2019, David McCullough III ’17 co-founded AEP as a first-of-its-kind, cross-cultural exchange program for graduated high school seniors. AEP has been hailed as a domestic Peace Corps that is effectively bridging the gap and building greater understanding and empathy across class, cultural, racial, and geographical divides throughout our nation. In 2023, AEP partnered with 53 high schools in 31 states. American Exchange Project has raised more than $5 million and partnered with Harvard psychology researchers to study the program’s long-term impact. To learn more view the profile on AEP broadcast on ABC’s Good Morning America.
Celebrate with YANA this December!
Dec. 11 | 6:30 PM ET – In-Person – VENUE TBD
Join us on Wednesday, December 11, for a festive cocktail reception, hosted by YANA President Ken Inadomi. This is a special opportunity to connect with mission-driven alumni, reflect on another year of impact, and celebrate the vibrant YANA community. You’re warmly invited to raise a glass to our shared successes and growing network of changemakers.
Looking ahead, be sure to mark your calendar for our first Town Hall of the new year on Wednesday, January 29, at 6:30 PM. We’re thrilled to welcome Dean Gregory E. Sterling, a transformative leader of the Yale Divinity School, as our featured speaker. Dean Sterling is a renowned advocate for justice and equality, having significantly increased diversity among faculty, staff, and students at the Divinity School. Don’t miss this inspiring discussion as we kick off 2024 with purpose and vision!
Music with a Mission Virtual Fundraiser
Dec. 12 | 6:30 PM ET via Zoom
Music with a Mission will raise critical funds to support Hurricane Beryl survivors in the Caribbean. We will be joined by a variety of musicians including TNTeague, the father and son duo of Liam Teague and Jaden Teague-Núñez.
TNTeague offers an exciting, eclectic, and unique blend of music that includes Calypso, Jazz, Classical, and Ragtime.
16-year-old Jaden Teague-Núñez is a multi-instrumentalist (steelpan, piano, and percussion) and recently created history when he became the first steelpan player to win the 2024 Crain-Maling Foundation Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s Young Artists Competition.
Liam Teague is one of the world’s leading steelpan virtuosos and serves as professor of music and director of steelpan studies at Northern Illinois University.
YANA INSIGHTS & CONNECTIONS
YANA Conference and Luncheon Featured in the Yale Daily News!
Nate Wong SOM ‘14, Asia Brown ‘16, MPH ‘19, DIV ‘19, Kathy Reich ’93 on the Measuring and Conveying Your Impact panel at the 2024 Conference
photos: Patrice D. Bowman
The recent Yale Alumni Nonprofit Alliance’s Annual Awards Luncheon and Conference was a powerful reminder of how community fuels social impact. Nearly 300 participants came together to celebrate alumni achievements and explore the transformative role of mentorship and intergenerational exchange in advancing YANA’s mission. The highlight of the event was an electrifying keynote by Bishop William Barber II, who issued a powerful call to action on the moral responsibility of addressing poverty and inequality.
This inspiring gathering reinforced the strength of YANA’s commitment to fostering collaboration and creating opportunities for alumni-driven social change. As we look ahead to 2025, we aim to deepen our impact and build on this momentum. Read more about the event and its significance in the Yale Daily News. Together, we’re shaping a brighter future.
Legislation targets non-profit tax-exempt status
The U.S. House has advanced HR 9495, a bill that could allow the government to revoke the tax-exempt status of nonprofits. This move raises alarms about potential political weaponization, as critics fear the measure could be used to silence organizations critical of the government. The proposed legislation comes under scrutiny for lacking procedural safeguards and due process, with opponents stressing that current laws are sufficient to address terrorism ties without undermining civil society.
Nonprofit leaders and civil rights groups are mobilizing to challenge the bill, emphasizing the danger it poses to freedom of association and advocacy. They argue that the ambiguity of the legislation could lead to arbitrary enforcement, threatening diverse nonprofit missions.
To learn more about the legislation check out the article in the Nonprofit Quarterly.
Get your nonprofit in tip-top shape with this Forbes Year-End Checklist
As the year ends, nonprofits have a vital to-do list to tackle. Key priorities include conducting a thorough financial review, recognizing donors and volunteers, and aligning strategic plans with future goals. Ensuring regulatory compliance and filing all necessary paperwork are essential steps to safeguard the organization’s operations. Additionally, investing in staff development and training can enhance team performance, while thoughtful planning for next year’s fundraising campaigns will secure crucial resources.
These actions are foundational to organizational success. By closing the year on a strong note, nonprofits can position themselves to better serve their missions and communities in the coming year. Strategic evaluation and engagement of supporters not only strengthen donor relationships but also lay the groundwork for impactful initiatives in the year ahead. For a full checklist, visit: Forbes Nonprofit Council.