Name: Patricia Gil-Casares
Title & Organization: Director of Learning, Engagement & Inclusion at Boston University
WID Role: Member since 2017
Hometown: Madrid (Spain)
Lives Currently: Newton, MA
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology at Universidad Pontificia de Comillas (Madrid). I am also a certified coach by International Coaching Federation (ICF) and Gallup Strengths Certified Coach.
Hobbies: Travel (to new places and -as much as I can- to Spain), hiking, biking, enjoying nature, and playing sports with my two sons. Overall, spending time with my family and friends; it’s what makes me feel fulfilled and recharges me the most.

Congratulations to our member who has changed positions:
Meredith Grabek O'Connell, formerly Senior Manager of Individual Giving at Thompson Island Outward Bound now Director of Individual Giving with Avodah.
Welcome to our newest members:
Elizabeth Ackerson, Cambridge Community Foundation
April Hannon, The HiPo Network
Lindsey Hummer, Boston Architectural College
Heather Johnston, Cambridge Health Alliance Foundation
Leah Lindsay, Seeding Labs
Theresa Lynn, United Way of Central MA
Kelse Petersen, New England Historic Genealogical Society
Emily Reiling, Charles River Watershed Association
Kelly Simone, Museum of Fine Arts
Seryna Warren, The Trustees of Reservations
Lorita Williams, Accelerated College Experiences, Inc.

Name: Karen DeTemple
Title & Organization: President, Workwonder
WID Role: Member since forever
Hometown: Champaign, IL
Lives Currently: Brookline, MA
Education: BA in Communication Arts and Sciences from DePauw University
Hobbies: tennis, weightlifting, pickleball, scuba diving, hiking, traveling, tequila and mezcal tasting

Congratulations to our member who has changed positions:
Bryanne Mahoney Bowen formerly Director Of Development, New England, Facing History and Ourselves now Director of Development Women's Foundation of Boston
Welcome to our newest members:
Naya Bricher, Fine Arts Work Center
Emily Brown, United South End Settlements
Margaret Burns, University of Southern Maine Foundation
Brenda French, Catholic Charities NH
Mary Gage, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Lee Gagen, Foundation for Metrowest
Regina Garland, Boston University
Melissa Gonzalez, Everyday Boston
Kelly Majewski, Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center
Priya Murali, Rian Immigrant Center
Denise Ozturk, Community Teamwork, Inc.
Arlene Schiff, Life & Legacy, The Harold Grinspoon Foundation
Samantha Simons, Women's Lunch Place
Marion Westgate, Handel & Haydn Society
Barbara Whalen, Malcolm Weiner Center for Social Policy- Harvard Kennedy School

Navigating Difficult Conversations

As development professionals, we’re no strangers to having challenging, sensitive conversations­—with donors, organizational leaders, board members, co-workers, and others. The events of recent years have brought increased attention to a host of complex issues surrounding race and racism, inequality, reproductive rights, politics, and more. These articles offer useful tips on navigating conversations that veer into difficult topics. 

Name: Melany Duval, Chief Philanthropy Officer
Organization: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute & The Jimmy Fund
Hometown: Suburbs of Los Angeles
Lives Currently: Chestnut Hill/Newton
Education: Loyola Marymount University
Hobbies: Photography, swimming, yoga, hiking, and travel

 

Early EOY Giving Results

As we kick off the new year, fundraisers around the country are reviewing their end of year results and evaluating where there was success – and where there are opportunities for growth.  Data shows that most nonprofits, although seeing a slight increase in revenue, are noticing a drop in donor retention.  These articles delve deeper into this idea of “dollars up, donors down” and encourage nonprofits to consider how to innovate in order to retain – or win back – their donor base.

 

Name: Patricia D. Keenan
Title & Organization: Vice President of Advancement, Community and Equity, Ellis Early Learning
WID Role: Current WID Member, former WID Board member
Hometown: Bridgewater, Massachusetts
Lives Currently: Sharon, Massachusetts  
Education: BA in Urban Studies from the College of the Holy Cross
Hobbies: Sharing movies and books with family and friends, spending time with our grandchild, walking in the woods, traveling anywhere and everywhere
 

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR MEMBERS WHO HAVE RECENTLY CHANGED POSITIONS:
Ruth Maffa formerly  Senior Regional Development Director at Brandeis University now  Executive Director of Development at Brandeis University
Kimberly Thomas formerly  Operations Manager at the Jeremiah Program, now  HKS Fund and Alumni Relations Coordinator at Harvard Kennedy School.
WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST MEMBERS:
Amil Amin, Reach Out and Read
Kristina Capano, Boston University
Angela Cavallo, Horizons, Dedham Country Day School
Tara Goodman, Harvard University
Anne Gotfredson, Harvard Medical School
Kerry Keohane, St. Francis House
Kristin, Macek, Action, Inc.
Sarah Shakeri, Boston Center for the Arts
Katheryn Shanahan, The Allo Hope Foundation
Kelsey Tabela-Baxter,  Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro South
John Zamagni, Mount Auburn Cemetary

Developing a Case for Support

A case for support is a key document for any nonprofit - a straightforward, engaging, and inspiring way to communicate the most important aspects of your work with your donors, trustees, employees, and funders. Whether it is developed for a specific campaign or to support an annual fund, a case for support helps to communicate your mission, vision, values, and goals. If you are ready to jump in to write (or perhaps update) a case for support, here are some resources to get you started.

Congratulations to our member who recently changed positions:
Raeann Whalen, formerly Chief Operating Officer, Housing Families, Inc, now Special Projects Director, Action for Boston Community Development
WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST MEMBERS:
Anuradha Desai, EdVestors, Inc
Madison Kelleher, Cristo Rey Boston High School
Abigail Norman, Eliot School of Applied and Fine Arts
Louisa Pena Lyons, Bridge Forward Fund
Haley Rodgers, Plummer Youth Promise

Name:  Elizabeth Fitzsimons
Title & Organization: Associate Director of Advancement, The Pike School
WID Role: WIDGB member; Marketing and Communications Committee member
Hometown: Swarthmore, PA
Lives Currently: North Andover, MA
Education: Wellesley College
Hobbies: Hiking, paddling, reading, cooking

More than 250 people gathered in-person for WID’s 2022 Fall Breakfast Kick-off held on Thursday, November 3, at the Westin Copley Place. Fundraising professionals from Boston and beyond caught up with peers across the industry and make new connections during a lively networking session before settling in for an engaging and insightful talk from guest speaker Dr. Makeeba McCreary, president of the New Commonwealth Racial Equity and Social Justice Fund (NCF).

Name: Alison LeBlanc
Title & Organization: Executive Director, Child Health Equity Center, UMass Memorial Health
WID Role: Member, Board of Directors; Co-Chair, DEI Committee
Hometown: Boston, Massachusetts
Lives Currently: Boston, Massachusetts  
Education: BA in Sociology and English from Wesleyan University; MS in Communications from SI Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University
Hobbies: Kayaking and hanging with my dog, Dash

How much of an impact will inflation make on nonprofits this year?
As we look to end-of-year giving as a critically important time for philanthropic gifts, nonprofits everywhere are gauging how inflation will impact the bottom line. Although only time will tell whether the current state of the economy will translate to fewer donations raised, organizations and their leaders are looking at clues from the past to help understand what to expect when they close out this calendar year. Each of these articles gives different perspectives, insights and suggestions on how best to navigate the remaining few weeks of 2022. 

Using Industry Reports to Guide Philanthropy Strategy
Industry reports can inform our fundraising strategy as we go in to a new year by providing a compiled and analyzed industry research that give a snapshot of the current state of philanthropy. This year’s reports assess the “new normal” for philanthropy after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, showing us which philanthropic trends have endured and those new trends nonprofit trends fundraisers will want to track. These 2022 reports give special focus to gift planning, grant distribution, and new digital fundraising trends.

 

WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST MEMBERS:
Molly Akin, Boston Symphony Orchestra
Sara Demeter, ARCK
Ellen Doonan, Kingsley Montessori School
Alissa Duffey, Mass General Brigham
Maureen Flores, Boston Symphony Orchestra
Kate Friedman, Unitarian Universalist Service Committee
Alison Gray, Pear Associates
Jessica Halton, Berklee School of Music
Fiona Hannafin, Stone House
Jacqueline Helle, Boston Medical Center
Kathy Howrigan, Kathy Howrigan Consulting
Sheila Hruby, Cape Ann Museum
Kristen Lynch, International OCD Foundation
Katie Misuraca, Cape Ann Museum
Leah Mulrenan, SCI Social Capital Inc.
Jennifer Palan, Bloomerang
Michelle Prange, Forth
Meredith Quinn
Sara Zastoupil, Mechanics Hall

“The only constant in life is change.” This adage feels truer now than ever­—particularly in the professional world, where our work lives are largely unrecognizable from just three years ago, and movements like the Great Resignation and Quiet Quitting dominate headlines.

Name: Raeann Whalen
Title & Organization: Chief Operating Officer (previously Director of Development) | Housing Families Inc. in Malden, MA
WID Role: Programs Committee Member
Hometown: San Jose, CA
Lives Currently: Burlington, MA
Education: BS Business Administration – Providence College in Providence, RI (GO FRIARS!)
Hobbies/Interests: Enjoying quality time with family and friends by cooking and hosting gatherings.

 

WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST MEMBERS:
Liza Brantley, UAspire
Sarah Chaffee, Merrrimack College
Becky Crawford, Pine Street Inn
Julia Del Muro, Massachusetts General Hospital
Jaclyn Dentino, Emmanuel Music
Amanda Fisher, Simmons University
Angela Johnson, Wentworth Institute of Technology
Keiosha Kennedy, Union of Concerned Scientists
Emma Kenney, The Carroll Center for the Blind
Nancy Kilburn, Massachusetts General Hospital
Olivia Lehman, Boston Women's Fund
Carissa Milliman, Upper Saco Valley Land Trust
Angela Phinney, Bikes Not Bombs
Kirsten Walley, CCS Fundraising
Alanna Woodlock, Project Bread