Meet the Grantmakers: Coffee and Conversations about investing in New York City
Professional Advancement Panel Session
Join us to explore approaches to grantmaking with funders in New York City. Our panel of experienced leaders in philanthropy will share insights into their core commitments to the city, perspectives on collaboration and community, and strategies for assessing evaluation and impact.
*Full participation in "Meet the Grantmakers: Coffee and Conversations about investing in New York City" is applicable for 1.0 points in Category 1.B - Education of the CFRE International application for initial certification and/or recertification*
LOCATION:
Scandinavia House
58 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10016
AGENDA:
8:30 AM: Registration and Networking
9:00 AM: Session Start
9:45 AM: Networking
10:00 AM: Session End
PRICING:
AFP-NYC Young Professional Members: $25
AFP-NYC Member: $50
Guest of AFP-NYC Member: $40
Non-Member: $75
PANELISTS:
Irfan Hasan
Deputy Vice President for Grants
The New York Community Trust
Irfan Hasan directs The New York Community Trust’s Healthy Lives grant program with oversight for health, behavioral health, and biomedical research grants. He is also responsible for $10 million in donor-designated grants for nonprofits nationwide. Irfan co-chaired the human services grantmaking committee of The Trust’s $110 million multi-funder NYC COVID-19 Response and Impact Fund to respond to the pandemic. He also developed emergency grants in response to Hurricane Sandy, the economic downturn of 2008/2009, and the September 11th Fund’s $75 million health and mental health program. Before joining The Trust, he oversaw programs at Greater Boston Rehabilitation Services (now part of Viability) to help people with disabilities and other barriers to employment get and keep jobs.
Irfan serves on the boards of Grantmakers in Health and Philanthropy New York, is a member of the governance committee for the Substance Use Funders Collaborative, is co-chair of the American Public Health Association’s Public Health Funder Network, a member of Philanthropy New York’s Health Working Group, a member of the Global Leadership Exchange (North American Region), and an elected fellow of the New York Academy of Medicine. Previously, he served as a Mayoral appointee to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s Community Service Board, a member (and board chair) of the Disability Funders Network, a board member of BoardStrong, and co-chair of the United States Student Selection Committee for the United World Colleges. Irfan earned a master’s in public administration from New York University’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service and a bachelor’s in sociology from Northeastern University.
Suzy Myers Jackson
SparkYouth NYC, Inc.
Suzy Myers Jackson is thrilled to join the SparkYouth NYC team having been involved with the organization for over a decade, both as a grantee and then as a Board Member.
Suzy’s nonprofit background spans nearly 20 years and encompasses a diverse range of expertise, including: fundraising, board development, nonprofit management, strategic planning, collective impact, culture change, team effectiveness, leadership coaching, program development, and the arts.
Suzy was the longtime Executive Director of Opening Act, a theater-based youth development and social justice organization, where she grew the organization’s reach from 3 to 57 of NYC’s most high-need public schools, increased revenue by 80 fold, developed a national profile for the organization, and supported programmatic impact, becoming a leading organization in Social Emotional Learning outcomes. Suzy has developed multiple campaigns and professional development workshops that have been adopted and implemented by organizations across the country to raise funds, deepen relationships with key stakeholders, and apply the creativity and collaboration of the arts to build a thriving organizational culture. Her unique leadership style is centered around the improvisational tenet of YES AND, which encourages all members of a team to bring their best selves and most innovative ideas to the table, building off one another’s strengths to achieve a shared mission.
Suzy has been a featured speaker at Columbia and NYU, and a consultant for such organizations and corporations as Harlem Educational Activities Fund, HBO, the Center for Anti-Violence Education, Youth INC, Brandworkers, STEM From Dance, and INCLUDEnyc.
Suzy received her BFA from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. She currently lives in Brooklyn with her partner and young sons.
Heather Nesle
Senior Vice President and President
New York Life Foundation
Heather Nesle is president of the New York Life Foundation, the charitable foundation created by New York Life Insurance Company. In addition to her Foundation duties, she is senior vice president of New York Life’s Corporate Responsibility Department.
The New York Life Foundation devotes the majority of its funding each year to educational enhancement in middle school, childhood bereavement, and social justice. Since its founding in 1979, the Foundation has made nearly $415 million in contributions to U.S.-based non-profit organizations. New York Life Corporate Responsibility initiatives include sustainability reporting and strategy, disaster relief, and the award-winning Volunteers for Good program, which helps New York Life employees and agents nationwide volunteer within their communities.
Ms. Nesle most recently served as vice president, corporate sustainability at HSBC Bank USA. Prior to that, she served in various roles at Fannie Mae, most recently as senior capital markets manager, as well as senior communications manager, and information architect.
Ms. Nesle was the recipient of the 2018 “Charlie Award” from Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose (CECP), which is given to a corporate affairs professional who demonstrates perseverance in the pursuit of societal advancement. She was a David Rockefeller Fellow through the Partnership for New York City in 2020. Ms. Nesle serves on the Board of Directors of the Afterschool Alliance, Philanthropy New York, and Monumental Women. She has also served on the Board of Directors of the Western New York Public Broadcasting Association.
Ms. Nesle earned a Master of Arts degree and a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications and human services from George Washington University. She currently resides in New York, NY with her husband, Steve, son, Benjamin, and daughter, Paige.
MODERATOR:
Leah Burke
Director of Development, New York Metro
American Technion Society (ATS)
Leah Burke is Director of Development, New York Metro, at the American Technion Society (ATS). ATS is a nonprofit fundraising organization that supports the growth and success of the Technion Israel Institute of Technology - a global innovation powerhouse. Leah works with donors, leaders, and alumni in the New York metro area to raise funds to support research, labs, and facilities that have helped the university produce world-changing contributions for over a century.
In her previous role, Leah worked as Major Gifts Officer at The New Jewish Home, a nonprofit, comprehensive health care system for older adults. Her other past experience includes serving as Northeast Regional Director at MedShare, a global health organization, as well as other development and special events roles at several New York City-based organizations, including Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Tuesday’s Children and City Harvest.
A passionate fundraiser with cross-functional background, Leah spent the first decade of her career working in corporate social responsibility and special events. This included roles with the National Basketball Association and UBS Financial Services. Leah enjoys working in the philanthropic community to make a global impact. Her favorite part of this work is connecting people and resources around the world.
In 2019, Leah co-founded Here to Sing, LLC, a New York City-based community choir dedicated to inclusivity. The choir, now boasting over 100 members, gathers weekly to sing rock and pop songs. Leah volunteers as the operations director, passionately supporting the arts in New York City.
Additionally, Leah actively engages with the AFP-NY Emerging Leaders and has participated as a seven-time charity rider in the Five Boro Bike Tour for Team Planned Parenthood of Greater New York. When she's not immersed in music, cycling, or enjoying Broadway shows, Leah can be found strolling the Upper East Side with her rescue dog, Teddy.
Leah holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Journalism from Northeastern University, and she proudly earned her Executive MPA degree from CUNY Baruch College's Marxe School of Public and International Affairs.