Dear YANA Community,
In moments of uncertainty, it’s natural to wonder how to channel our energy toward meaningful action. This month’s newsletter showcases exactly what we need right now: Yalies supporting each other and advancing mission-driven work around the world. Whether it’s protecting sea turtles in Trinidad, supporting first-generation students through world tours, or pioneering AI for social good, our community continues to prove that collective action creates lasting change.
Kristin Urquiza ’03,
Yale Alumni Nonprofit Alliance Executive Director
UPCOMING EVENTS & OPPORTUNITIES
YANA’s 2025 Conference & Generation-to-Generation Awards
Oct. 24 | In-Person (Yale Club of NYC) & via Livestream
Join us October 24th at the Yale Club of New York for an inspiring day of learning, connection, and celebration. Our 2025 conference, “Stronger Together: Building Resilient Nonprofits,” addresses the critical challenge facing nonprofit leaders today: how organizations can adapt, survive, and thrive during times of disruption.
Together, we’ll explore practical strategies for navigating change during challenging times, strengthening financial sustainability, leveraging volunteer talent, and building powerful partnerships that drive lasting impact. Connect with cross-generational leaders and fellow Yale alumni committed to mission-driven work.
We’re honored to celebrate three extraordinary alumni at our Generation-to-Generation Awards Luncheon: Jonathan Fanton ’65, M Phil ‘77, PhD ’78 (President Emeritus of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and former MacArthur Foundation president), Mariko Silver ’99 (Lincoln Center’s CEO), and Khalid Cannon ’17 (Co-founder of Put Me In!).
Leave empowered with fresh strategies and actionable tools to build your organization’s resilience and create stronger communities together.
Early Bird Discounts now available—save $45 on full day conference and awards luncheon registration! Register now! Room block available at the Yale Club*.
Connect and celebrate with 250+ nonprofit executives, social impact leaders, and Yale alumni driving change across sectors.
*Room block available at the Yale Club. Call 212-716-2100 for rates and reservations and mention “Yale Alumni Nonprofit Alliance.”
Strategic Partnerships and Storytelling to Transform Nonprofit Mission Delivery
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. You don’t need to be a member of the Yale Club to join us!
Meet Jon Mallow ‘00, CEO of GMHC, and Aziz Isham ‘00, Executive Director of the Museum of the Moving Image
June 25 | 6:30 PM ET – In-Person (Yale Club of NYC) & via Zoom
What happens when college roommates become nonprofit leaders? Join us for a fascinating case study of how personal relationships can evolve into powerful professional partnerships that transform institutional impact.
Join us for a compelling conversation between two Yale College roommates (Class of 2000) who have taken remarkably parallel paths from media careers to leading major New York City nonprofit organizations. Jon Mallow ‘00, CEO of Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC), and Aziz Isham ‘00, Executive Director of the Museum of the Moving Image, will explore how their shared background in storytelling and media has shaped their approach to nonprofit leadership.
Both leaders bring unique perspectives on communicating complex missions to diverse audiences—whether challenging misconceptions about HIV/AIDS or celebrating the art of film and television. They’ll discuss the opportunities and challenges of running legacy institutions in today’s landscape, from combating “crisis fatigue” to finding innovative ways to collaborate across sectors.
Expect insights on strategic communication, cross-sector partnerships, organizational sustainability, and how two very different nonprofits can learn from each other’s approaches to narrative-driven impact. This conversation will offer valuable lessons for anyone interested in how storytelling can mobilize change and build lasting institutional relevance.
Join us for YANA’s July Seminar: Advocacy Strategies for Nonprofits
July 10 | 6:30 PM ET via Zoom
The Yale Alumni Nonprofit Alliance (YANA) continues its Pursuing Your Mission lecture series with a timely seminar on advocacy for nonprofit organizations. Join us Thursday, July 10, from 6:30-7:30 PM Eastern for an informal discussion designed to help nonprofit leaders expand their ability to affect policy decisions at local, state, and federal levels.
Our featured speakers bring exceptional expertise to this critical topic. Nicholas Ottone, PhD ’26 candidate in political science, studies local political economy and public policy with published work in the British Journal of Political Science and American Politics Research. He’ll be joined by Margie Alt ’82, whose experience in environmental advocacy provides valuable real-world perspective.
This seminar builds on the energy from YANA’s October 2024 Social Impact Conference, where over 250 attendees explored strategies for leading through change, advocacy, AI, and strengthening partnerships. The Pursuing Your Mission series deepens these conversations through monthly online sessions with network experts, meeting the second Thursday of each month.
In these challenging times, YANA remains committed to supporting our community of impact leaders working to make the world safer, healthier, and more just.
YANA Caribbean Chapter Partners with Local Organization for Sea Turtle Conservation in Trinidad
June 19 | 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
The Yale Alumni Nonprofit Alliance Caribbean Chapter is making waves with an exciting new partnership! On Thursday, June 19th from 11 AM to 2 PM, YANA will join forces with the Sans Souci Wildlife and Tourism Development Organization (SWATDO) for a meaningful turtle conservation event at Big Bay Beach in Trinidad and Tobago.
This hands-on volunteer opportunity combines environmental stewardship with community engagement, focusing on protecting vital sea turtle nesting sites through beach cleanup efforts. Volunteers will remove harmful trash that threatens marine life while learning about ocean conservation from local experts.
SWATDO, a local nonprofit, works with community residents to preserve Trinidad’s natural environment through education and collective action.
No prior experience is required for this family-friendly event—just bring your energy and love for nature! For more information, contact Dixie Ann Thomas at 1(868) 313-1515.
Support Yale’s Whim ‘n Rhythm on Their 2025 Summer World Tour Promoting Gender Equity in the Arts
Yale’s first and only senior women’s a cappella group, Whim ‘n Rhythm, is launching their 2025 Summer World Tour to share their music and promote gender equity in higher education in the arts. The tour spans ten countries including Ireland, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Turkey, Italy, Morocco, Greece, and England.
Many Whim members are First-Generation college students who balance multiple jobs alongside their academic responsibilities as full-time Yale students and their commitment to the group. This tour represents a significant opportunity for these students to share their talents internationally while advancing important social causes.
Yale Women alumni in tour cities can support this meaningful experience by connecting the group to performance opportunities, sponsoring group meals, or making donations to offset travel and housing costs. The goal is ensuring this transformative experience remains accessible to all members regardless of their financial circumstances.
Contact whim.yale@gmail.com to support Yale’s talented women musicians on their world tour.
YANA IN ACTION
Dean Lewis Shares Insights on Yale’s Future Amid Political and Financial Challenges at YANA’s May Town Hall
Yale College Dean Pericles Lewis joined YANA for an engaging Town Hall discussion, offering candid insights into how Yale is navigating today’s complex landscape. Dean Lewis shared encouraging news about student resilience, noting improvements in graduation rates and declining mental health leave requests, while highlighting Yale’s success in maintaining a diverse student body despite recent Supreme Court decisions.
The conversation addressed pressing challenges, including potential federal funding cuts that could impact tens of millions in research grants, particularly in areas related to diversity, climate change, and public health. Dean Lewis emphasized Yale’s community-focused approach, citing the close-knit campus environment and residential college system as key advantages in managing tensions and supporting students.
Significant initiatives discussed included the new Center for Civic Thought, expanded mental health support through Yale College Community Care, and the Office of Educational Opportunities designed to better support first-generation and low-income students. Dean Lewis also addressed concerns about international student visa processing delays and the potential 21% endowment tax that could significantly impact university operations.
We’re deeply grateful to Dean Lewis for his thoughtful participation and transparent discussion of these critical issues facing higher education today.
Watch the full Town Hall recording to hear Dean Lewis’s complete insights and audience Q&A session.
YANA’s “Pursuing Your Mission” Series Tackles Individual Donor Strategies for Nonprofit Sustainability
YANA’s “Pursuing Your Mission” series continued on May 8th with a timely discussion on building individual donor bases for long-term nonprofit sustainability. The webinar addressed the critical need for diversified funding strategies as government funding becomes increasingly scarce and unpredictable.
YANA Executive Director Kristin Urquiza ’03 and Hedrick Belin ’90, President of Potomac Conservancy, shared expertise on developing robust individual donor strategies. The discussion emphasized that individual donors contribute nearly 70% of all philanthropic support in the United States, making these relationships crucial for organizational sustainability.
Belin brought over 15 years of nonprofit fundraising and leadership experience, while Urquiza shared insights from her 20-year career driving policy change and engaging both major and grassroots donors. Together, they explored practical strategies for building lasting donor relationships that extend beyond immediate funding needs.
The monthly series addresses key topics for nonprofit leaders navigating uncertain times, inspired by feedback from the 2024 YANA Social Impact Conference and the broader YANA network.
YANA SF Partnered with Yale Club and Yale Women for Distinguished Alumni Discussion on Venture Capital and AI Innovation
YANA SF Chapter partnered with the Yale Club of San Francisco and Yale Women to host a discussion on venture capital, tech innovation, and AI implementation on May 13th.
The event featured Ann Miura-Ko ’98, Co-Founding Partner at Floodgate and Yale Trustee, and Elizabeth Pontikes ’98, Professor at UC Davis Graduate Management School. Together, they explored three major technological shifts: mass compute, mass connectivity, and mass cognition.
Key discussion points included AI’s impact on the workforce and education, the need for AI literacy to manage AI interfaces, and AI’s potential to replace routine tasks while allowing people to focus on creativity and critical thinking. The speakers also addressed AI’s role in speeding discovery and changing society, along with ethical implications, the importance of human interaction, and the role of regulation in guiding AI development.
This collaborative event provided YANA members with valuable insights on technology trends relevant to nonprofit and social impact work
YANA INSIGHTS & CONNECTIONS
The Second Gift Secret: Why 59% of Repeat Donors Become Lifelong Supporters
For years, nonprofit professionals have focused on first impressions with donors, but groundbreaking new research suggests we’ve been looking at the wrong moment entirely. The real magic happens with the second gift.
Recent data analysis from Dataro, examining donor patterns across thousands of organizations, reveals a striking paradox: while only 31% of new donors go on to make a second gift, an impressive 59% of those who do make a second donation continue giving beyond that point. This finding fundamentally challenges conventional wisdom about donor cultivation.
The implications are profound. Traditional donor stewardship often treats all new donors equally, but this research suggests that the window immediately after the first gift represents the highest-leverage moment for long-term relationship building. Organizations that can move donors from one gift to two effectively double their chances of creating lasting supporters.
For nonprofits already dealing with tight budgets and rising acquisition costs, the ongoing decline in donor retention highlights an urgent need to focus on retention strategies in 2025. Smart organizations are shifting resources from acquisition to strategic retention programs.
Consider auditing your current new donor journey. Are you investing enough in that critical second solicitation? The data suggests this might be the most important investment you make in 2025.
AI for Good: How Nonprofits Are Leading the Artificial Intelligence Revolution
The artificial intelligence revolution has arrived in the nonprofit sector, and mission-driven organizations are leading the charge in developing AI applications that prioritize human benefit over profit.
In 2025, nonprofits are fully embracing AI technology, leveraging it to streamline operations, strengthen programming, analyze complex data, and personalize donor engagement. The applications are remarkably diverse and sophisticated.
Consider Joy Education Foundation’s breakthrough approach: they’ve created a tool that acts as an AI-enabled friend. After a child reads to the AI for just a few minutes, the tool can offer rapid diagnosis that spots areas in need of further growth and provides teachers and parents with customized learning plans. What traditionally required extensive assessment now happens in real-time.
The American Cancer Society demonstrates AI’s analytical power in unexpected ways. They used AI to examine GoFundMe campaigns and found that over one-third of fundraising stories explicitly described financial hardships caused by medical issues. These insights inform both fundraising strategies and policy advocacy efforts.
This isn’t just about efficiency, it’s about amplifying impact. AI enables nonprofits to serve more people, identify needs faster, and create personalized solutions at scale. The organizations embracing these tools today are building the foundation for tomorrow’s social change.
YALIES IN SOCIAL IMPACT
Kimberly Jones ’00: Leading the Fight for Educational Equity in a Critical Moment
When the Trump Administration’s 2026 budget proposal called for eliminating Federal TRIO (Talent Search, Student Support Services, and Upward Bound) Programs in May 2025, Kimberly Jones ’00 faced the fight of her career. As President of the Council for Opportunity in Education (COE), she mobilized a network spanning all 50 states to defend programs that serve nearly 900,000 low-income, first-generation students annually.
The response came quickly: thousands of emails flooded Congressional offices, over 10,000 TRIO alumni signed petitions, and local news stories highlighted the programs’ impact. But uncertainty remains, with some programs receiving cancellation notices just days before grants were set to expire. In response, COE launched a $500,000 Educational Opportunity Campaign aimed to protect and defend the TRIO program in the long-term
Jones became an educational advocate after her Yale years, where she was selected as a 1999 Harry S. Truman Scholar. A New Haven native, she joined the COE in 2007 and has built one of the most effective advocacy operations in higher education, securing over a billion dollars in federal funding for underserved students.
Jones also serves on the board of Marked By Covid and volunteers with organizations supporting foster youth.
Reshma Saujani LAW ‘02: Breaking the Glass Cliff
Reshma Saujani turned her background as an attorney and activist into something extraordinary: a global movement that’s reshaping who gets to be in tech. When she launched Girls Who Code in 2012, she had a simple but powerful insight. Girls were missing from computing classes, and somebody needed to fix that.
Girls Who Code exploded under her leadership. The organization taught nearly 600,000 girls directly and reached 14.6 billion people worldwide. Her TED talk about teaching girls bravery instead of perfection has 54 million views. She wrote bestselling books and became one of the most recognized voices in tech diversity.
Here’s what makes Saujani different: she planned her exit from day one. In 2021, she stepped down as CEO after nine years. “I don’t think anyone should ever stay anywhere for more than eight years,” she says. She carefully chose her successor, Tarika Barrett, years before making the transition.
She avoided what often happens to women leaders: the glass cliff. The glass cliff concept explains why women often land leadership roles only when organizations are struggling. Companies hand over control to women during crises, setting them up for failure. Saujani made sure this wouldn’t happen to her successor by planning the transition from day one and stepping away while the organization was thriving.
Now Saujani runs Moms First, fighting for paid leave and affordable childcare. Her approach proves that women can build institutions that outlast their own leadership. She didn’t wait for crisis to step down. She built something strong, handed it off, and moved on to the next challenge.
YANA Caribbean Chapter Leader Marcia Hodge YSN ’06 Honored with United Hospital Fund’s Tribute to Excellence in Health Care Award
We’re thrilled to celebrate YANA Caribbean Chapter Leader Marcia Hodge YSN ’06, who was honored at the United Hospital Fund’s prestigious 2025 Tribute to Excellence in Health Care ceremony on May 5th at Cipriani’s in Manhattan. Marcia was recognized as one of many outstanding quality improvement champions selected from across the New York metropolitan area.
This distinguished award celebrates healthcare professionals who have made exceptional contributions to improving quality of care, patient safety, and the patient experience at their institutions. The selection process drew from 71 participating organizations, including hospital systems, long-term care facilities, home care organizations, federally qualified health centers, medical groups, and behavioral health organizations throughout the NY metro area.
Marcia’s dedication to excellence in healthcare exemplifies the leadership and commitment she brings to our Caribbean Chapter. Her work improving patient outcomes and advancing quality care reflects the spirit of service and impact that drives YANA’s mission globally. Under her leadership, the Caribbean Chapter continues to grow and make meaningful contributions to their local community, including the upcoming turtle conservation partnership in Trinidad.
Congratulations, Marcia, on this well-deserved recognition of your outstanding contributions to healthcare excellence!