September 2025 | A Newsletter for the YANA Community

Tickets Selling Fast! Get Yours Today Before It’s Too Late!

Oct. 24 | In-Person (Yale Club of NYC) & via Livestream

Join us for a day of inspiration, networking, and celebration! Discover strategies that work for mission-driven leaders navigating today’s complex landscape, connect with a powerful network of change-making alumni, and celebrate those who are redefining what’s possible in social impact.

CONFERENCE PANEL PREVIEW
Financial Resilience: Navigating Economic Uncertainty

This panel features three compelling fundraising stories illustrating diverse pathways to financial resilience in times of uncertainty. Our experts will share their experiences with various fundraising approaches—from major gifts and corporate partnerships to community-based campaigns and digital innovations—highlighting how they successfully aligned their missions, competencies, and donor relationships. You’ll leave with practical, ready-to-implement strategies for diversifying revenue streams, strengthening donor engagement, and adapting your fundraising tactics to build lasting financial stability regardless of economic conditions.

Rachel Hamalainen

Julie Horowitz ’92, MBA ’97 | Assistant Head of School for Institutional Advancement and Strategy, Charles E Smith Jewish Day School

Julie Horowitz is the Assistant Head of School for Institutional Advancement and Strategy at the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School, in Rockville, MD, just outside Washington, DC. In this role, she oversees Fundraising, Marketing and Communications, and Admission and Engagement across the ~850 student school, spanning grades preK-12 and two campuses. Read More

Miranda Massie M.A. ’92 | Director, The Climate Museum

Miranda Massie is the founding director of the Climate Museum. She left a career in social justice litigation to launch the Museum, which in 2018 had its breakout year of programming and in late 2024 secured a permanent home. Miranda has pioneered an approach to climate engagement that blends culture and activism, empowering visitors in the large majority who are worried about climate change but unsure what to do. Read More

Ted Smith ’00 | Executive Director, New Heights Youth, Inc.

Ted Smith has been with New Heights since 2005, when New Heights was established as an independent nonprofit. Ted worked alongside founder Nick Blatchford as the first staff member, and in 2010 he took over the reigns as Executive Director. Born and raised in New York City, Ted played professional basketball in England, where he also worked for a social investor in charitable children’s projects. Read More

Rachel Hamalainen (moderator) | Senior Vice President, CCS Fundraising

Rachel Hamalainen specializes in mobilizing philanthropic resources in pursuit of equity and social justice. A skilled philanthropic strategist, Rachel partners with institutions in the advocacy, civil rights, and social services sectors to spearhead transformational fundraising campaigns with revenue goals ranging from $10 million to $1 billion. Read More

Thank you to our Sponsors!

Lanyard Sponsor

Building Community Among Pacific Northwest Changemakers

Sept. 18 | 5:00-6:30 PM (Seattle, WA)

The Yale Alumni Nonprofit Alliance Pacific Northwest Chapter invites you to an intimate end-of-summer gathering designed to strengthen connections among Yale alumni and friends working in the social impact space throughout the region.

Event Details:

• When: Thursday, September 18, 5:00-6:30 PM PT
• Where: Stoup Brewing – Capitol Hill, 1158 Broadway, Seattle, WA 98122
• What: Casual networking with finger foods provided in a relaxed brewery setting

This gathering represents the growing momentum of YANA’s Pacific Northwest presence, offering a perfect opportunity for both longtime YANA members and newcomers to connect face-to-face. Whether you’re leading a nonprofit, working in philanthropy, serving in government, or supporting social impact through corporate roles, this happy hour creates space for meaningful conversations about shared challenges and collaborative opportunities.

The Pacific Northwest’s vibrant social impact ecosystem includes everything from environmental conservation and homelessness services to education reform and community development. This informal setting allows for authentic relationship-building among Yale alumni who understand both the rewards and challenges of mission-driven work.

The event serves as an ideal introduction for those interested in learning more about YANA PNW’s growing chapter while providing established members a chance to deepen existing connections. These face-to-face interactions often spark the partnerships, mentorships, and collaborative projects that amplify individual impact across the region.

Join fellow Yale alumni for an evening of connection, conversation, and community-building in one of Capitol Hill’s popular local spots. Light refreshments and meaningful networking await.

“Get Ready for the Conference With Me” Virtual-Only Town Hall

Sept. 24 | 6:30 PM ET – Virtual via Zoom

Join us for a special virtual-only Town Hall, “Get Ready for the Conference With Me,” on Wednesday, September 24.

This interactive session is your chance to meet YANA board members and leadership, hear behind-the-scenes updates on how the upcoming YANA Social Impact Conference is coming together, and learn how you can help build momentum.

We’ll open with insights from our leadership team about what’s in store for this year’s conference, followed by small group breakout sessions where you’ll connect with fellow Yalies passionate about social impact. You’ll also get a first look at ways to amplify the conference—whether that’s sharing on social media, inviting your network, or bringing new voices to the conversation.

In the spirit of action, we’ll dedicate part of our time together to a live activation session, so you leave not just inspired but already making an impact.

This event is free and open to the YANA community, but registration is required. Don’t miss this chance to connect, collaborate, and help shape the energy leading up to the conference.

1stGenYale Seeks Partners for Inaugural Summer Internship Fair

Sept. 26 | 2:30-5:00 PM ET (New Haven, CT)

The Yale Alumni Nonprofit Alliance community has an exciting opportunity to support the next generation of changemakers through 1stGenYale’s inaugural Summer Internship Fair on September 26, 2025, in New Haven.

This groundbreaking initiative specifically focuses on supporting first-generation-to-college and financial aid students, though it’s open to all Yale College students. The fair creates vital connections between students and organizations seeking summer 2026 interns across nonprofits, government, public service, arts, education, STEM research, and for-profit companies.

In just five years, 1stGenYale’s Summer Bulldogs program has placed 308 Yale College student interns across 155+ organizations, demonstrating the program’s proven track record of meaningful placements that benefit both students and host organizations.

For nonprofits, there’s an added advantage: eligible Yale College students on financial aid may receive funding through the Yale Summer Experience Award, potentially eliminating budget concerns for host organizations.

Participating organizations can promote their mission, meet motivated Yale students face-to-face, and get an early start on building relationships for next summer’s internship opportunities—all at no cost.

YANA members represent exactly the type of mission-driven organizations that can provide transformative experiences for Yale students while advancing their own organizational goals. The fair offers a perfect alignment between YANA’s commitment to supporting both the nonprofit sector and Yale’s community impact.

Applications are due September 23, 2025. 1stGenYale, a self-funded 501(c)(3) run by alumni volunteers, welcomes organizations regardless of Yale alumni affiliation.

Yale Alumni Lead Critical Conversation on AI’s Role in Society

Oct. 9 | 5:30-7:00 PM PT (Free virtual attendance or paid in-person tickets)

The Yale Alumni Nonprofit Alliance SF Bay Area Chapter & the Yale Club of SF present a panel discussion examining the complex relationship between artificial intelligence and human creativity, purpose, and learning. This timely hybrid event brings together distinguished Yale alumni and faculty to explore how AI is reshaping fundamental aspects of our professional and cultural lives.

Distinguished Panelists Include:

• Ben Glaser, PhD, Yale’s Director of AI Initiatives in the Humanities, discussing AI’s challenges and opportunities in education
• Pulin Sanghvi ’92, entrepreneur and thought leader exploring AI’s impact on work and purpose
• Sarah Senk ’03, Professor and “My Robot Teacher” podcast co-host examining AI’s implications for public higher education
• Ivan Linn AD ’15, CEO of Wavv and Grammy winner, revealing how AI reshapes cultural production and creativity

As leaders in mission-driven organizations, understanding AI’s influence on education, workplace dynamics, and cultural creation is essential for strategic planning and programmatic innovation. This discussion offers practical insights into leveraging AI while preserving human-centered values that drive nonprofit work.

The conversation addresses critical questions facing today’s changemakers: How can AI enhance rather than replace human creativity? What are the ethical implications for educational institutions? How do we maintain purpose-driven work in an AI-influenced economy?

Healthcare, Biological Research, and AI

Oct. 14 | 5:30-7:00 PM PT (In-Person or via Zoom)

The Yale Club of San Francisco and the Yale Club of Silicon Valley invite you to an evening with innovators Sharmila Majumdar, PhD (UCSF), Smita Krishnaswamy, PhD (Yale University), Nur-Taz Rahman, PhD (10x Genomics), and moderator Eleanor Pepples (YANA SF Bay Area and Yale Club of SF) as they unveil the ways that artificial intelligence is revolutionizing healthcare, biological research, and biotech.

Co-sponsored by YaleWomen and the Yale Alumni Nonprofit Alliance.

We welcome your questions in advance by October 9th.

Sharmila Majumdar, PhD is the Margaret Hart Surbeck Distinguished Professor in Advanced Imaging and Vice Chair for Research, co-executive director of the Center for Intelligent Imaging (ci2) in the Departments of Radiology Biomedical Imaging. She holds joint appointments in Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, Orthopedic Surgery at UCSF.

Nur-Taz Rahman is a Senior Scientist at 10x Genomics, where she focuses on delivering bioinformatics solutions to researchers using both proprietary and open-source methods of analyzing large-scale genomics data. Her passion is developing easy-to-use workflows that employ existing software and artificial intelligence, so that start-to-end bioinformatics analysis can become accelerated and more accessible. She is involved in projects related to using machine learning to identify cells based on growing data repositories; recognition and visualization of specific immune receptors; and parallelization of massive single-cell analysis workflow in the cloud environment. 
She has been an invited speaker at the prestigious iReceptor Seminar, and is co-inventor on a patent. For her dedication in mentoring and nurturing budding scientists, she was awarded the Young Alumnae Award 2025, by her undergraduate alma mater. Before joining 10x Genomics, Nur was a Simbonis Fellow of Bioinformatics at Yale University, where she collaborated with multiple research groups to analyze data related to skin cancer, leukemia, and COVID19 studies. During her fellowship, she also helped establish the Bioinformatics Support Hub at the Cushing/Whitney Medical Library at Yale. Prior to that, Nur earned her doctorate from the Krause Lab at Yale, where she used bioinformatics analysis to study hematology and immunology. 

Smita Krishnaswamy is an Associate professor in Genetics and Computer Science. She is affiliated with the applied math program, computational biology program, Yale Center for Biomedical Data Science and Yale Cancer Center. Her lab works on the development of machine learning techniques to analyze high dimensional high throughput biomedical data. Her focus is on unsupervised machine learning methods, specifically manifold learning and deep learning techniques for detecting structure and patterns in data. She has developed algorithms for non-linear dimensionality reduction and visualization, learning data geometry, denoising, imputation, inference of multi-granular structure, and inference of feature networks from big data. Her group has applied these techniques to many data types such as single cell RNA-sequencing, mass cytometry, electronic health record, and connectomic data from a variety of systems. Specific application areas include immunology, immunotherapy, cancer, neuroscience, developmental biology and health outcomes. Smita has a Ph.D. in Computer Science and Engineering from the University of Michigan.

Preparing for Nonprofit Survival in Today’s Climate

Missed our September “Pursuing Your Mission” session? Don’t worry—you can still access the valuable insights from our expert panel discussion on preparing your organization for survival in today’s challenging nonprofit climate.

Lauren Koster ’12, Managing Attorney at Nonprofits Counsel, and Alexander Reid ’97, Partner and Tax Exempt Organizations Practice Lead at BakerHostetler, shared actionable strategies for navigating potential financial, reputational, and regulatory challenges facing mission-driven organizations.

This timely conversation covered how to prepare for funding withdrawals, legal stances on political issues, and regulatory constraints that could affect your mission delivery. Whether your organization is already facing these challenges or you want to be proactive, this session provides essential tools and concrete examples to help you thrive in our rapidly evolving landscape.

Board Opportunities: Join a Mission-Driven Organization

Looking to serve on a nonprofit board? We’ve connected with organizations across the country seeking dedicated Yale alumni to join their leadership teams. Here are some exciting opportunities:

Mangroves works to form and promote deep metadesign for planetary futures through their annual Fellowship program. Visit mangroves.life to learn more or email david@mangroves.life to inquire.

Marked By Covid is the justice and remembrance movement led by Covid grievers, driving the National Covid Memorial honoring 1.2M Americans lost to Covid. Visit https://www.markedbycovid.com/ to learn more or email kristin@markedbycovid.com to inquire.

TrustedRiders Inc. bridges transportation gaps for vulnerable people with door-to-door travel companions, supporting healthcare and community partners nationally. Visit https://www.trustedriders.org/ to learn more or email deborah@trustedriders.org to inquire. 

LearnServe International empowers young people to become changemakers through leadership and social entrepreneurship training. Visit www.learnserve.org to learn more or email Deborah Levine at d.levine222@gmail.com to inquire.

FriendshipWorks reduces social isolation and enhances quality of life for older adults in Greater Boston through volunteer friendship programs. Visit https://fw4elders.org/ to learn more or email Koren Iskra at koreniskra@gmail.com to inquire.

ViviendasLeon.org eliminates rural poverty in Central America by empowering communities to transform themselves. Visit ViviendasLeon.org to learn more or email evan@viviendasleon.org to inquire.

OneWorld Now! develops global leaders through foreign language training and study abroad for underrepresented high school students. Visit https://oneworldnow.org/ to learn more or email elizabeth@oneworldnow.org to inquire.

Haitian Educational Initiatives supports Haitian organizations in addressing Haiti’s education
crisis. Together, their goal is to develop successful, sustainable, and replicable solutions to the
problems of illiteracy and low school completion rates in Jacmel, Haiti. Visit www.haitied.org to
learn more or email Susan Whitcomb at susan@haitied.org to inquire.

Uptown Stories empowers the young writers of upper Manhattan to write and publish their own
stories. To ensure our program is accessible to our ethnically and economically diverse
community, our tuition is “Pay-What-You-Can.” Visit https://uptownstories.org/ to learn more or email kate@uptownstories.org to inquire.

Shaping Her Earth (SHE) empowers young women of color in high school and college with skills, confidence, and leadership tools to step into their power, amplify their voices, and drive meaningful change in their schools, communities, and beyond. Visit http://www.shapingherearth.org/ or email sheria@shapingherearth.org to inquire.

The Alex House Project’s mission is to increase long-term family-sufficiency by providing a safe and nurturing environment for parent education and leadership development with support to access higher education and the workforce. Visit www.alexhouseproject.org or email samora@alexhouseproject.org to inquire.

YVote works To ensure every New York high school student is empowered to engage, act, and
lead change in their city, at and beyond the ballot box. Visit www.yvoteny.org or email Randy@yvoteny.org to inquire.

Waterspirit is a spiritual ecology nonprofit that informs, inspires, and empowers people of all beliefs to deepen their consciousness of the sacredness of water and the interdependence of all Earth’s systems. Visit http://www.waterspirit.org or email bnelsen@waterspirit.org to inquire.

Red Dot Foundation’s mission is making the world a safer place for all, especially women & girls by preventing gender-based violence through data-backed, collective action from individuals, communities, and institutions. Visit https://reddotfoundation.org/ or email ElsaMarie DSilva at elsa@reddotfoundation.org to inquire.

Each organization brings unique opportunities to make a lasting impact. Whether you’re passionate about education, global development, arts, or community service, there’s a perfect board match waiting for you.

YANA Board & Committee Nominations – Open Now!

The YANA Board is seeking nominations of individuals interested and qualified to serve on the YANA Board for an initial term of three years, or one of its Committees for an initial term of one to three years – starting January 2026. This is an exciting opportunity to join a group of dedicated, fellow Yalies from diverse backgrounds. We thank you for your interest in and support of YANA!

Nominations must be submitted by 5:00pm ET on Wednesday, October 29. To nominate a candidate, or to self-nominate, please complete the form here:

2025 Philanthropic Landscape: Data-Driven Insights for Strategic Giving

Key findings illuminate the changing donor landscape: 54% of Millennials now make mobile donations, while 77% of nonprofits expect to adopt AI within the next 3-5 years. The report also addresses concerning trends, including the fact that one-third of nonprofit CEOs plan to leave their roles within two years, highlighting urgent leadership challenges facing the sector.

Beyond the numbers, the report explores emerging realities across sectors—from faith-based organizations navigating new federal opportunities to environmental groups adapting to regulatory changes. It provides essential context for understanding how generational differences, technological adoption, and policy shifts are influencing philanthropic behavior.

The 160-page report features client spotlights, strategic insights, and practical guidance for fundraising professionals. Special attention is given to building tomorrow’s donor base, with analysis of Gen Z and Millennial giving patterns that will shape the future of philanthropy.

As a conference sponsor, CCS Fundraising will have an exhibit table at the upcoming conference. Stop by to discuss the report findings and learn how their strategic consulting services can help your organization navigate these trends and achieve ambitious fundraising goals.

Whether you’re planning a major campaign, developing donor engagement strategies, or navigating organizational change, this report provides the strategic intelligence needed to make informed decisions.

Mobile Giving Optimization: Essential Guide for Today’s Donors

The CCS Fundraising 2025 Philanthropic Landscape reveals a critical shift in donor behavior: 54% of Millennials, 45% of Gen Z, and 43% of Gen X now make donations via smartphone. Yet many nonprofits struggle to optimize their mobile giving experience, missing significant revenue opportunities.

Mobile giving isn’t just a trend—it’s becoming the primary way younger generations support causes they care about. The data shows that while mobile device usage for nonprofit websites has reached 57%, only 25% of donation revenue currently comes from mobile devices. This gap represents enormous untapped potential for organizations that prioritize mobile optimization.

Donorbox’s “Ultimate Mobile Giving Guide for Nonprofit Fundraising” provides the comprehensive roadmap your organization needs. This recently updated resource covers everything from responsive donation page design to QR code implementation strategies that bridge physical marketing with digital giving. The guide includes step-by-step guidance for integrating digital wallets like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Venmo—payment methods that significantly improve mobile conversion rates.

Key optimization areas include streamlined donation forms with minimal required fields, text-to-give campaigns with custom keywords, and strategic QR code placement that connects your offline fundraising materials to mobile-friendly giving platforms. Organizations implementing these strategies report up to 50% increases in mobile transaction completion rates.

The guide also addresses the technical requirements often overlooked: ensuring your donation process works seamlessly across all mobile device sizes, integrating with your existing CRM systems, and creating mobile-first communication strategies that engage donors where they spend their time.

With digital wallet adoption accelerating and younger donors expecting frictionless mobile experiences, now is the time to optimize your mobile giving strategy. The comprehensive guide provides the evidence-based strategies and practical implementation steps needed to capture this growing revenue stream and meet the evolving expectations of your donor base.

From Life-Threatening Experience to Life-Saving Innovation

Counterfeit medicines kill over 1 million people annually, with 100,000 deaths occurring in Africa alone. At Yale SOM, Kao connected with co-founder Adebayo Alonge ’16, who survived a 21-day coma after taking fake medicine in Nigeria. Together, they leveraged Yale’s social entrepreneurship resources to develop RxAll, a revolutionary health-tech platform addressing pharmaceutical supply chain failures.

RxAll’s flagship innovation, the RxScanner, uses AI-powered molecular spectroscopy to authenticate medicines in under 20 seconds. But Kao’s vision extends beyond detection to comprehensive pharmacy support, creating a digital ecosystem that includes payment systems, drug procurement platforms, and financing services.

The impact speaks to extraordinary scale: RxAll now operates across Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, Ethiopia, and Myanmar, serving over 5,000 pharmacies in a network that is 60% women-owned. Major pharmaceutical companies including AstraZeneca, GSK, and Merck have partnered with RxAll for brand protection and supply chain monitoring.

Kao’s leadership has earned prestigious recognition, including Inc Magazine’s 2025 Female Founders 500 List and Fast Company’s 2025 World Changing Ideas Award. As a Clinton Global Initiative Greenhouse Cohort member, she’s expanding RxAll’s impact through AI disease mapping and counterfeit medicine awareness initiatives.

“We were victims, but we are also survivors,” Kao reflects, “and as survivors, we felt compelled to speak up for those who couldn’t.” Her work demonstrates how personal tragedy can fuel systemic solutions that protect millions from preventable harm.

Michael K. Dorsey YSE ’96 YSE has built a career at the intersection of climate justice, environmental policy, and finance. A lifelong advocate for sustainability, he co-founded the Sunrise Movement Education Fund, which equips young activists to champion bold climate solutions like the Green New Deal. He also co-founded Around the Corner Capital, an impact investment and advisory firm that accelerates clean energy development and ensures renewable power reaches underserved communities.

Dorsey has served on the Sierra Club’s national board for more than a decade, where he helped shape the organization’s advocacy on climate and energy. He was also instrumental in creating B.O.S.S. (Black Owners of Solar Services), a coalition dedicated to expanding Black ownership and participation in the solar industry.

His influence extends globally: he has advised governments, international organizations, and businesses on strategies for a just energy transition. Recognized with Rotary International’s Paul Harris Medal for Distinguished Service and named a top “Energy & Environment Insider” by National Journal, Michael exemplifies how bold vision and practical action can converge to build a more equitable and sustainable future.