Women in Development of Greater Boston (WIDGB) is proud to announce our 2024 list of scholarship recipients. The 15 awardees were selected in September from a pool of very worthy candidates and hail from a variety of nonprofit organizations. 

WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST MEMBERS:
Laura Alpert, MAB Community Services
Gabriela Alvarado-Pasko, MAB Community Services
Hannah Anthony
Esther Austin, ZUMIX
Kimberlee Backman
Lauren Bardsley, Boston Preparatory Charter School
Emma Barry, IFAW
Michelle Biscotti, Massachusetts Bay Community College
Kasey Boston, Brookline Teen Center
M'Lissa Brennan, Brandeis University
Kayleigh Bugalla, Bottom Line
Tori Cargill, Brookwood School
Sarah Clark
Elaine Clements, Andover Center for History and Culture
Diana Collins, Boston Medical Center
Melissa Cooke, POLITICO
Sarah Cormier, Boston University
Kellie Costa, Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund
Deborah Cutler-Ortiz, Women's Money Matters
Kelsey Davis, BCG Connect
Mishawn Davis-Eyene, Massachusetts Bay Community College
Jean DeMayo, Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly
Hollie DeSilva, Biomedical Science Careers Program
Lucy Desmond, Beth Israel Lahey Health - Beverly Hospital
Tara DiDomenico, Development Guild DDI
Junianny Dos Santos, Massachusetts Bay Community College
Pamela Eddy, Cardinal Cushing Centers, Inc.
Kathleen Flynn, National Tay-Sachs & Allied Diseases Association
Alexandra Fuller, Level Ground Mixed Martial Arts, Inc.
Jessica Garcia, Boston Harbor Now
Nancy Gottesman, American Heart Association
Daisy Guzman, Trinity Boston Connects
Greta Hagen, JDI
Arielle Hardy, Franklin Performing Arts Company
Alison Hastings
Emily Heresey, Shattuck Partners, Inc.
Heidi Hood
Bithyah Israel, City Strings United
Lily Jewell, Boston Preparatory Charter School
Sydney Johnson, Massachusetts Bay Community College
Kailey Kennedy, Boston University
Katherine McNally, YW Boston
Megan McNally, Massachusetts Historical Society
Suzanne Milauskas, Colby College
Delphene Mooney, On the Rise, Inc
Nicola Parry, American College of Veterinary Pathologists
Kristina Paul, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Marienne Pelletier, Staupell Analytics Group
Chloe Rayer, The Trustees of Reservations
Betsy Rigby, BTR Fundraising Partners
Jackie Russell, Teak Media + Communication
Marisa Serrano, The Brookline Teen Center
Meag Shaffer
Megan Shanahan, Boston University
Michele Simos, The Dignity Institute
Michelle Soverino, Plimoth Patuxet Museums
Jessie Strauss, Cambridge Center for Adult Education
Sarah Thomas, Massachusetts Science and Engineering Fair
Jennifer Ubaldino, Concord-Carlisle Community Chest
Maggie Ukah, UTEC, Inc.
Andrea Wasserman, ABW Partners
Jennifer Williams, Saint Anselm College
Stacey Winkler, Brandeis University
Kate Yoder, Concord Conservatory of Music

Thank you for your participation in our 2024 Community Survey. Our goal for this year’s survey was to understand the diversity and sense of belonging of the WID community (current members and non-members) so that we continue evolving into a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable organization.

Name: Marena Burnett
Title & Organization: Executive Director, Three Squares New England
WID Role: Member since 2024
Hometown: Worcester, MA
Lives Currently: Needham, MA
Education: BS Business Administration, University of RI
Hobbies: Hiking, skiing, kayaking, 3 little grandbabies!

Fundraising in an Election Year
The end of the calendar year is a busy and often chaotic time for development professionals. Adding a dynamic, contentious, and high-stakes presidential election only heightens the chaos and stress we may feel as we strive to hit year-end fundraising goals. Here are some resources to help you have a successful—and a little less-stressful—fundraising season this fall

WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST MEMBERS:
Molly Abrahams, Housing Families
Anne Barker, Salem State University
Allison Burke, NamaStay Sober
Marena Burnett, Food for Free
Andrea Campbell, Boston Harbor Now
Nekia Clark, The Ellie Fund
Allison Cooley, Walnut Hill School for the Arts
Kerri Cullen, The Brookline Center for Community Mental Health
Shane Dunn, Shane Dunn Social Sector Strategies
Sabrina Dwyer, Dexter Southfield School
Quinn Fey, Silent Spring Institute
Kelly Fleming, International Institute of New England
Alexa Flinker, Walnut Hill School for the Arts
Isabella Foddrill, Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center
Rachel Frenkil, Gann Academy
Leah Gallant, MIT
Susan Garvey, League of Women Voters of Massachusetts
Bo Gray, Etched in Gray
Jonelle Gurley, Maria Mitchell Association
Abigail Hamilton, On the Rise, Inc
Kathy Harvey Ellis, Massachusetts 4-H Foundation
Emily Henshaw, Boston City Singers
Maddie Ikeda, Daily Table
Becky Jacobson, American Cancer Society
Mindy Kalish, Needham Community Council
Faith Kelnhofer, Greentown Labs
Jennie Ju Hyun Kim, Shimoo LLC
Jessica Lee, Full Frame Initiative
Douglas Lovell
Giana Manganaro, Bottom Line
Ashley Mareira, Walnut Hill School for the Arts
Suzanne Maselli, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine
Lauren Mason, Daily Table
Adele Mezher, Pearl Street Collective
Colleen Murphy, Milton Academy
Sarah Murray, Harvard Medical School
Adriana Nguyen, John F. Kennedy Library Foundation
Alexa Pagliaro, Whitehead Institute
Beth Parsons, Boyden
Lori Piracini, Tufts University
Kiera Powers, Mother Caroline Academy and Education Center
Sarina Sadana, John F. Kennedy Library Foundation
Jaye Smith, FSG Consultants
Naomi Sobel, WBUR
Caroline Stuart, Boston College
Nadia Torres, First Teacher
Rita Toscano
Shereen Tyrrell, Burlington Public Schools
Goergina Urbina, Harvard University
Mary Walek, New Heights Charter School of Brockton
Angela Waring, International Institute of New England
Courtney Young, Cradles to Crayons

Name:  Heather Johnston
Title & Organization: Director of Development, Cambridge Health Alliance Foundation
WID Role: Marketing and Communications Committee
Hometown: Danvers, MA
Lives Currently: Beverly, MA
Education: BS in Business Administration, Southern New Hampshire University
Hobbies: Gardening, time on the beach, and spending time with my daughters, husband, and two dogs. However, what keeps me the busiest is being a hockey and softball mom and traveling to rinks and fields all over New England and the East Coast.

Tapping into Peer-to-Peer Fundraising
For many nonprofits in the greater Boston area, fundraising for the Boston Marathon is in full swing. Last year alone, peer-to-peer fundraising for this historic event brought in $40.3 million to nonprofits in our area. But peer-to-peer (P2P) fundraising—where supporters ask friends and family to donate to a cause they are invested in—is a strategy nonprofits can utilize year-round. The following resources provide insights into P2P fundraising best practices.

Name:  Nicole Dumas
Title & Organization:  Director of Advancement Talent, Boston College
WID Role: President
Hometown: Boston, MA
Education: Harvard Extension School, Boston College '25
Hobbies: Crossword and word search puzzles

WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST MEMBERS:
Katherine Berman, Boston Center for the Arts
Lara Brown de Fuenmayor, Boston University
Robyn Burns, The Salem Pantry
Melissa Butler, Endicott College
Danielle Capalbo, Gaining Ground
B. Joanna Chen, GenUnity
Chandra Clark, Corey C. Griffin Foundation
Tracey Clingingsmith, Emmanuel College
Jessie Cox, Project Bread
Tess Crick, The Water Project
Elizabeth Dada, KIPP Massachusetts
Natalie DiLeo, The Carroll School for the Blind
Chantel Ellis, Mustard Seed Communities
Wesley Farnsworth, Handel and Haydn Society
Kiara Fuentes, Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston
Jill Goldenberg, Goldenberg Solutions Group
Dawn Goodman, William James College
Shauna Helton, Victory Programs
Casey Hewson, MIT
Thavy Hout, English for New Bostonians
Briana Hughey, Boston Partners in Education
Allison Ingalsbe, Allison Ingalsbe|Creative Strategies
Julian Iralu, GrubStreet
Carlisle Jensen, Egan Maritime Institute
Virginie Kargere, Brigham & Women's Hospital
Sue Kim, Peabody Essex Museum
Susan Kinney, Greater Lawrence Family Health Center
Heather Kurtz, Congregational Library and Archives
Pemma Lhazin, Charles River Watershed Association
Casey Liston, Massachusetts General Hospital
Wilma Lopez, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts
Melina Mardueno, Junior Achievement of Greater Boston
Melissa Markstein, Handel and Haydn Society
Meghan McGrath, Jean Appolon Expressions
Alexandra Mikkelsen, Massachusetts General Hospital
Betsy Narciso, Catholic Schools Foundation
Natercia Nazaire, Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance
Ross Ramkissoon, Boston University
Leah Rogoff
Sandy Saenbounmy, Boston Center for the Arts
Beatrix Sanders, St. Mark's School
Erica Scott-Adjei, Brookline Community Foundation
Marisa Serrano, Shelter Music Boston
Moira Sharkey, University of St. Andrews
Karen Solomon
Elizabeth Soule, MetroWest Legal Services
Natsuko Takashima, Handel and Haydn Society
Emily Talley, QT Library
Allison Titus, MJH Grants
Scottie Wait, Pine Street Inn

November Pulse of Fundraising: AI and Fundraising
November kicks off one of the busiest times of year in development. As our never-ending to-do lists keep growing, there has been increased buzz around the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in our sector. Is there a place for ChatGPT in a world where relationships are king? Check out the following resources that explore AI in fundraising, the exciting areas for growth, and things of which to be wary. And for an even deeper dive into this topic, don’t forget to register for our December program, Unlocking the Potential: AI in Fundraising- Exploring Possibilities and Navigating Challenges.

Name:  Wendy Davison
Title & Organization: Assistant Director of Annual Giving, Salem State University (SSU)
WID Role: Current WIDGB member and on the Membership Committee
Hometown: Berkeley Heights, New Jersey
Lives Currently: Salem, Massachusetts
Education: BA in Business Administration from The George Washington University, MBA in Business from Salem State University
Hobbies: Exploring the North Shore and beyond! There is always something to do. We have great beaches for long walks and reflection and a variety of events. In my downtime, I like to read and do puzzles – crossword or jigsaw.

Welcome to our newest members:
Johane Alexis-Phanor, Beyond words
Joanna Cacciola, JVS Boston
Wendy Cadge, Brandeis University
Abbie Cavalier, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Kerry Feltner, MIT
Stacey Flanagan, University of Louisiana at Lafayette Foundation
Jillian Hebert, Pine Street Inn
Cathi Ianno, Global Arts Live
Angela Lett, The Eliot School of Fine and Applied Arts
Danielle Lurie, UMASS Boston
Angela Molloy, Beyond Booksmart
Jennifer Villandry, WestBridge
Ceclia Wright, Museum of Fine Arts

"Anyone can be a volunteer, so be creative and ensure you are connecting with as many volunteers as possible." - Nibal Awad, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships                                                                                                                                On May 9, 2023, more than 40 WIDGB members gathered at the first in-person Lunch-and-Learn since February 2020! The event featured an excellent panel discussion featuring Nibal Awad, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships & Donor Impact at Positive Tracks, Carly Churchill, Associate Director of Advancement at Cotting School, and Ginny Fuller Marinaro, Senior Director of Development at Brigham & Women's Hospital.

Mental Health Awareness in Fundraising
In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, May’s Pulse of Fundraising highlights articles that discuss burnout in our profession and provide some strategies to address it. Make sure to take some time to check in with yourself this month and reach out if you need help: https://namimass.org/resources/. 

 

Fundraising During Challenging Financial Times
Recession and inflation loom large over our work these days. How can we, as fundraisers and nonprofit leaders, prepare our organizations and our donors to weather economic challenges? These four articles offer insights, tips, and some much-needed reminders of the importance of our work, especially in uncertain economic times.

Four Landmark Studies that Development Professionals Should Cite for Women’s History Month
March marks Women’s History Month, a time for us to champion the diverse contributions that women have made to the charitable ecosystem and to the larger movement for equality, justice, and power. The following primary sources examine non-profit as a space increasingly belonging to women and offer several citable insights about the philanthropic sector.

 

Welcome to our newest members:
Jill Black, Boston Medical Center
Kim Carvalho, St. Francis House
Jeanne Goswami
Jane Kokernak, Northeastern University
Rebecca Kovrlija, Lahey Hospital & Medical Center
Eva Maynard, Junior Achievement of Greater Boston
Libby McLaughlin, Save the Harbor/Save the Bay
Anne Melvin, Harvard University
Emma O'Leary, Union of Concerned Scientists
Kristine Otto, Boston Medical Center
Elsbeth Pratt
Sandra Publicover, Ethos
Tiffany Roca, Cradles to Crayons
Helen Sturm, Museum of Fine Arts

"The way to prepare for a successful future—whether you know what it is or not—is to keep acquiring skills, so you are ready when luck, opportunity, or clarity about your future strikes.” ­­­— Anne T. Melvin, JD, principal of Dynamic Fundraising Training                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          On Thursday, March 30, an impressive group of development professionals gathered virtually to share their expertise during the Symbiotic Relationship Between Frontline Fundraisers and Development Operation Roles. The program kicked off with a keynote by Anne T. Melvin, JD, principal of Dynamic Fundraising Training, and was followed by a panel discussion moderated by senior talent acquisition consultant Maureen Pena. Panelists included fundraising and communications consultant Johane Alexis-Phanor of Beyond Wordz; Emily Donohue, senior director of prospect management and research at UMass Boston; Rosie Martel-Foley, vice president of development strategies and governance at United Way; and Sarah Robinson, executive director of advancement at the Van Wezel Foundation.

 

“In order for a planned giving initiative to be sustainable, it has to be integrated into an organization's culture." 

                  - Arlene Schiff, Senior Advisor, Life & Legacy

 

 

On February 7th at 12 noon, Women In Development of Greater Boston hosted Lori Kranczer; Founder and CEO, Link Elevating Philanthropy; Jill Ng; Director, Planned Giving, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute; and Arlene Schiff; Senior Advisor, Life & Legacy for an informative discussion about planned giving trends this year, how to steward your planned giving donors and ways to approach the conversation with donors of all ages.