Your Big Events Questions Answered
Professional Advancement Panel Session
Events are back! Convening your donors, partners, friends, and colleagues in person can be a powerful mission moment – but clear purpose and strategy is critical. Your Big Events Questions Answered will cover tips, strategies, and insights to enhance your fundraising events – including raising money in the room, setting and reaching realistic goals, diversifying your audience, and more! Join us to hear ideas and best practices from experienced guest speakers that will help you take your events to the next level.
TIME:
8:45am: Check-in/Registration/Networking
9:15am: Session Start
10:30am: Session End
LOCATION:
The LGBT Community Center
ROOM 301
208 W. 13th Street
New York, NY 10011
PRICING:
AFP-NYC Member: $50
Guest of AFP-NYC Member: $40
AFP-NYC Young Professional Member: $25
Non-Member: $75
Full participation in this program is applicable for 1.25 points in Category 1.B -Education of the CFRE International application for initial certification and/or recertification.
PANELISTS:
SHERA SALGADO EASTER
Director, Special Events, The New School
she/her
Shera Salgado Easter is responsible for the operation and execution of major development events at The New School including Parsons Benefit and City Visionary Awards. Prior to joining The New School, Shera was the Director of Events at One Love Foundation and served as the Director of Development at The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, New York City - Southern NY Chapter. With over twenty years in nonprofit event fundraising, Shera has managed galas and major peer-to-peer events. She holds a Bachelors degree in Communications from the Pennsylvania State University.
APRIL GRISWOLD
Director of Special Events and Corporate Engagement, Callen-Lorde Community Health Center
she/her
April Griswold is a passionate non-profit professional with over 20 years of experience in Special Events, Fundraising, Corporate Engagement, and Board Development. Her extensive background includes work with diverse organizations such as The New York Foundling, Food Bank for NYC, Harlem Educational Activities Fund, and Bailey House, among others. April has excelled in raising funds through special events, giving campaigns, and corporate initiatives while building and leading volunteer teams, including executive and young professional boards. Her dedication to underserved and LGBTQ+ communities fuels her drive to effect meaningful change.
A lifelong learner dedicated to growth and transformation, April founded Next Level Coaching and Consulting in 2020 to combine her passion for development with her extensive experience. Her business provides individual and group coaching, special events planning, board development, and volunteer management services.
In her spare time, April enjoys reading, cycling, long walks and talks, brunching, mentoring young women of color, and volunteering.
ZARETA RICKS
Executive Director, Young Audiences New York
she/her
Zareta Ricks is the passionate Executive Director of Young Audiences New York, with 15 years of
nonprofit experience, including over a decade in leadership. A proud mother of three, Zareta is
deeply committed to youth and family education and empowerment. Her career and volunteer
efforts focus on fostering social impact and promoting equity, ensuring marginalized
communities have access to vital opportunities and resources.
Zareta has spearheaded successful initiatives that have enriched the educational experiences of
hundreds of students, families, and school communities. She believes in making special events
meaningful and memorable, forging connections, and inspiring action. Her leadership is
centered on building strategic relationships and partnerships to elevate philanthropy and
support Young Audiences New York's mission to create a more inclusive and supportive
community.
Above all, Zareta is dedicated to putting people first, maintaining a heartfelt approach to the
hard work of nonprofit fundraising. She believes in keeping the "heart-work" at the forefront,
driving her vision to empower individuals and families with the tools and support they need to
thrive.
MODERATOR:
SEITU JEMEL HART
CEO, Scenes LLC
Seitu is the CEO of SCENES LLC a social impact consulting firm focusing on event production, capacity building, and social impact for non profits, corporations, philanthropic institutions & individuals. Seitu produced his first talent show at 13 and wrote his first grant at 14 years old. He holds over 25 years of experience and has produced hundreds of events,raised over 100M dollars and garnered more than 750M media impressions for client events and campaigns.
Prior to SCENES LLC Seitu served as the inaugural Chief Executive Officer of Will & Jada Smith Family Foundation (WJSFF) /Careers in Entertainment (CIE) a premier social impact initiative undergirded and supported by WJSFF's over SOOM philanthropic footprint. In this role he created an ambitious $33M strategic work & investment plan with an outcome of creating more access, opportunity, and inclusion within the global entertainment industry. He is also the former Vice President of Membership & External Affairs for ABFE (the Association of Black Foundation Executives), the nation's first philanthropic affinity group.
He is a 2020 Philanthropy 100 Honoree and considers it a blessing to now also be playing a role in cultivating a ipeline for the next generation to participate in leveraging social influence to create more social impact. Seitu attended Clark Atlanta University and received a B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Business Administration from the University of Bridgeport and went to New School University's Milano School for Management and Urban Policy, specializing in fundraising and development.