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Annual Conference

YANA has been producing its major conference and fundraising event since 2016.

2026 Yale Social Impact Conference promo

Trust is at the heart of everything nonprofits make possible.

Trust is at the heart of everything nonprofits make possible.

Trust between a leader and the community they serve. Trust between a donor and the mission they believe in. Trust between one generation of changemakers and the next.

This year’s conference theme is In Trust: Building and Inspiring What Lasts

The Yale Alumni Nonprofit Alliance invites you to the YANA 2026 Annual Social Impact Conference — where nonprofit leaders come together not just to learn, but to build the relationships that make harder, better work possible.

Panels & Workshops: Practical sessions on building agility and resilience in today’s nonprofit landscape.
Peer Exchange Sessions: Tackle tough challenges and share your hard-won experience with peers who bring fresh perspectives.
Vendor Exhibition: Connect with leading suppliers of tools, technology, and leadership development resources.
Generation-to-Generation Awards Luncheon: Celebrate extraordinary leadership across three generations of changemakers at our signature annual luncheon.

Whether you're a board member, executive director, emerging leader, volunteer, or seasoned changemaker — this is your community. Join us on October 23rd at the Yale Club of New York City!

2026 Sponsors coming soon

Learn about sponsorship opportunities

Generation to Generation Honorees

2026 Honorees

Lisbeth Shepherd '93

Social Entrepreneur in Residence & Independent Consultant MIT Urban Risk Lab

What if all young people devoted a period of their lives to solidarity? How can a period of service help build an inclusive green economy where everyone thrives?

Ms. Shepherd's career has been devoted to exploring these questions. She co-founded Unis-Cité, which engages young adults in a period of paid service in teams across France and inspired the national Service Civique. In the US, she coordinated a national working group that developed a vision for a Clean Energy Corps. She co-founded Green City Force to put this idea into practice, and served as founding executive director; Green City Force employs young residents of public housing in NYC in a period of service and leadership development on a path to careers in the green economy.

Since 2022, Ms. Shepherd has taught in the School of Architecture & Planning at MIT and coordinated the MIT Climate Corps Initiative, engaging students in classes, projects, and research with city and community partners on climate action. She is currently an independent consultant and social entrepreneur in residence at the MIT Urban Risk Lab, collaborating on design for community resilience, environmental justice, and equitable career paths.

Martha (Marcy) Finn Brooks '81, SOM '86

Board Director Volvo AB, Constellium, RMI, CARE

Martha (Marcy) Finn Brooks, Yale '81 and Yale SOM '86, continues to explore the world seeking ways to make a difference. After a 25 year career in heavy industry culminating in leading the largest aluminum rolling and recycling company in the world, she turned to corporate board service and non-profit leadership.

Ms. Brooks retired from full time industrial work in 2009 to allow for a second career in service and a continual life of learning. She is a passionate philanthropist, active in fighting poverty and empowering women in both her adopted home Atlanta and around the developing world. She is the former Chair and a Board Emeritus Member of CARE, one of the largest INGO’s in the world, leading work in over 100 countries to fight poverty and save lives. She continues to bring her business skills to global efforts to build wealth and economic security for the world’s most vulnerable citizens by empowering women, impact investing, and building local value chains. She is a former Chair of the Carter Center Board of Councilors, and an active community leader in Rotary. She currently co-chairs the board of the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), a “think and do” tank focused on accelerating the transition away from fossil fuels working with businesses and governments around the world.

Her Yale service includes the President's Council of International Advisors, Yale Alumni Board of Governors, Yale SOM Board of Advisors, The Yale-China Association and the Yale Georgia Alumni Association.

The Rev. Andre Gilford, Jr. DIV '24

Executive Director & Interim Pastor Middletown Racial Justice Coalition & Dixell Avenue Congregational Church UCC

Rev. Andre believes the work of justice begins with the most precious among us — young people — and that faith and education are how you do it.

An organizer, educator, and ordained minister, he serves as executive director of the Middletown Racial Justice Coalition and interim pastor of the historic Dixwell Avenue Congregational Church UCC in New Haven. Drawing on his years teaching high school history and English, he works with area schools to put student agency at the center of their teaching.

In his native Detroit, he helped found the city's BYP100 and Black Lives Matter chapters at the height of the Movement for Black Lives, building coalitions across grassroots organizers and universities to grow young people's power.

He studied at Morehouse College and Wayne State University, earned a Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of the District of Columbia, and recently completed his Master of Divinity at Yale Divinity School, where he led Yale Black Seminarians, the school's oldest and largest student organization.

Earlier, he was a pastoral intern for children and youth at Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago and assistant to the executive director of the Boys & Girls Club of Greater New Haven.

Aside from work, Rev. Andre's biggest passions are singing gospel music, working out, and pancakes.

2025 Honorees

Khalid Cannon '17

President, Put Me In!

Khalid Cannon is the President and Chief Program Officer of Put Me In!, a national nonprofit expanding access to youth sports for children of incarcerated parents. A Gadsden, Alabama native, Khalid graduated from Yale with degrees in chemistry and geology, where he was a three-year football starter. After working as a strategy consultant, he co-founded Put Me In! in 2020. His commitment to building a more equitable future for justice-impacted youth is deeply informed by his own experience as the child of an incarcerated parent. Under his leadership, Put Me In! has scaled from a regional pilot to a national program providing long-term support to nearly 200 children nationwide. Khalid has become a recognized voice in youth development and sports equity, appearing on national platforms to elevate the stories of children affected by incarceration. His journey to nonprofit leadership demonstrates how community support and lived experience foster resilience, embodying our belief that we are truly stronger together.

Jonathan Fanton '65, M.Phil. '77, Ph.D. '78

Former President, MacArthur Foundation

A distinguished American historian and leader, Dr. Jonathan Fanton has dedicated his career to advancing knowledge, supporting vulnerable communities, and promoting institutional excellence. The YANA Generation-to-Generation Award recognizes his extraordinary commitment to education, human rights, and social impact.

As President Emeritus of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences and former President of the MacArthur Foundation and The New School for Social Research, Jonathan Fanton has consistently championed transformative initiatives. His leadership extends beyond institutional roles, with significant board service for critical organizations including Human Rights Watch and Scholars At Risk. Dr. Fanton's academic credentials, including a B.A. and Ph.D. in American History from Yale University, complement his profound commitment to social justice.

Currently serving on multiple boards focused on refugee support, international education, and global exchange, he continues to drive meaningful change across diverse sectors. His remarkable journey reflects a lifelong dedication to bridging academic insight with practical solutions, making him an exemplary embodiment of the Generation-to-Generation Award's vision of thoughtful, impactful leadership.

Mariko Silver '99

President & CEO, Lincoln Center for Performing Arts

Dr. Mariko Silver brings exceptional vision through her transformative nonprofit leadership spanning arts, education, and philanthropy. As Lincoln Center's twelfth president, she champions the arts as a unifying force and strives to make world-class artistic programming accessible to all.

Her distinguished career showcases mission-driven leadership as President and CEO of the Henry Luce Foundation, where she established initiatives supporting Democracy, Ethics, and Public Trust while doubling funding commitments to Indigenous communities. As President of Bennington College, she secured the institution's largest endowment gift and developed partnerships with premier arts institutions worldwide.

Mariko's expertise bridges cultural advancement, educational innovation, and philanthropic impact. She currently serves on the boards of the Council on Foreign Relations, MASS MoCA and the Migration Policy Institute. A Yale alumna with advanced degrees from the University of Sussex and UCLA, Dr. Silver exemplifies visionary nonprofit leadership that cultivates creativity and fosters community engagement across diverse mission areas.