FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 13, 2005
Contact: Poonam Prasad
(212) 755-1309
PrasadC@aol.com

FUNDRAISERS’ GROUP TEACHES WOMEN TO ASK FOR MORE $

Women in Development Celebrates 25th Anniversary and Honors Founder, Elizabeth Becker

Average Salaries of Female Fundraisers are 76% of Male Compensation

(NEW YORK) – In the last 25 years, the fundraising field has transformed from one of male domination to female saturation. Yet, men hold most of the leadership roles, especially in the largest organizations. Is there a glass ceiling?
 
According to Virginia Strull, Vice President of Women in Development, and fundraising and search consultant “Women have made major strides in fundraising in the last 25 years; Emily K. Rafferty, President of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, recipient of WID’s 2005 Woman of Achievement Award, and Karen Brooks Hopkins, President of the Brooklyn Academy of Music, are among those who have broken the glass ceiling.”

Brenna Sheenan Mayer, President of WID and Vice President for College Advancement at The College of New Rochelle, echoes this sentiment. “Women have made considerable contributions to the development field, raising millions of dollars and enhancing the professionalism of fundraising. Naomi Levine, former head of fundraising at New York University was nicknamed ‘the Two-Billion Dollar Woman’ in recognition of the enormous success of the University’s fundraising efforts during her tenure.”

“As in the corporate sector, women in the development field continue to lag men in salary and advancement. In general, they are also more likely to lead smaller, rather than larger, organizations,” Ms. Mayer added.

Women in Development, New York was founded by Elizabeth “Betty” Becker, then Development Director for the National YMCA at a time when there were very few women in the field. In the fall of 1980, Ms. Becker attended a meeting of a national council of fund raisers, at which she was dismayed to find that she was one of only two women attendees. As a result, she set in motion the movement that is now WID. Included in the core WID founding group were: Libby O’Connor, then Major Gifts Director at the YWCA, now working at the Planned Parenthood Federation of America; Ruth Logan and Jeanette Kahlenberg from the staff of the YWCA; Rae Tattenbaum of American Women’s ORT; the late Sanky Perlowin, a Vice President at Oram Associates, (who went on to found her own direct mail consulting firm, Sanky Perlowin & Associates, which is still in operation); Kathryn “Kay” Dayton, Foundation Director at Boys’ Club, and Marguerite Gilpatric, Director of Resources, PPFA, Inc. The enthusiasm at their informal get-togethers affirmed Betty Becker’s belief that women needed a forum to network and move toward improving their status in development. Today, WID boasts about 650 members, representing over 350 nonprofit organizations in the tri-state area. Nearly 250 of them will gather at New York University’s Kimmel Center at Washington Square South to honor Ms. Becker, 81, at a cocktail reception, as part of the group’s 25th anniversary celebrations, on Wednesday, July 13 from 6-8 PM. The celebration is generously underwritten by NYU’s Heyman Center of Philanthropy and Fundraising.

Elizabeth LoNigro, Executive Director, NYC Commission on Women's Issues, represented Mayor Michael Bloomberg at the event. Ms. LoNigro presented a celebratory mayoral proclamation to the officers of Women in Development. She lauded the organization and its membership of 650 women, who have devoted their entire lives to bettering their communities, and making the world a better place through their dedicated service.

“WID’s spectacular growth is a testament to Betty Becker’s foresight, vision and determination to improve the status of women in the development profession,” noted Strull. “WID has been an important influence in the participation of women in the development field for the past 25 years. Our organization’s efforts are now geared to accelerating the trend of women achieving leadership positions in this field by providing them with exposure to leaders and mentors. We offer programs that empower women with practical advice on how to excel in the field, and how to negotiate for the salaries and positions they deserve, as their male counterparts have not hesitated to do.”

The latest survey of development staff salaries shows that women continued to earn considerably less than men in this profession. The average salary of male fundraisers is reported to be $95,879, while that of females is $73,295. The study was conducted by the Association of Fundraising Professionals in 2005.

As the premiere professional organization for women in all aspects of fundraising in the New York area, WID therefore, has much work to do in promoting pay equity. According to one of WID’s founding members, Libby O’Connor, Director of Trusts and Estates, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, who has spent much of her career in planned giving, “Men focus on the goal of promotion, while women may be more easily distracted.”

Nevertheless, in the three decades, she has spent in the field, O’Connor also has seen promising signs. “There are already signs of change,” she said. “In past decades, clients preferred dealing with men, today fortunately, that is no longer the case.”

Reflecting on the expansion of the association’s programs since its early days, Mayer noted “WID now provides workshops for professional development, hosts monthly luncheons with leaders in business, philanthropy and government, and promotes the key role of development in the nonprofit sector. These programs help the members enrich their skills, advance their careers and contribute to the growth and success of their organizations. None of this could have happened without Betty Becker’s initiative and foresight.”

About Women in Development, New York

Women in Development, New York (www.widny.org) is a dynamic organization of fund-raising professionals dedicated to promoting the highest standards in the field and providing education and leadership for the next generation. It has a membership of about 650 professionals engaged in all aspects of fundraising, including: Grantwriting, Major Gifts, Planned Giving, Special Events, Membership and Communications.

WID’s members share a collegial and supportive network through which they help each other advance in their careers at all levels. The association hosts monthly luncheons featuring speakers who are leaders in the philanthropic and nonprofit sectors, and sponsors periodic professional development workshops for its members, who are primarily from the tri-state area. WID also honors those who inspire, using their examples to assist its members’ professional and personal growth.

The Reception honoring the Founders of Women in Development is the second event in the year-long celebration of WID’s 25th Anniversary to recognize the past, present and future of this professional organization. The commemoration also marks the central role of Development in the nonprofit sector. At the February event, three women who have broken through the glass ceiling and currently lead prominent nonprofit organizations will speak in a panel discussion (names to be announced). Yet another remarkable woman who has worked in the Development field for the last three decades will be honored at a fourth and culminating event to be held in May 2006 (name to be announced). Earlier this year, on May 16, WID presented its Woman of Achievement award at its annual Luncheon to Emily Kernan Rafferty, President of The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Ms. Rafferty, a long-time member of WID, rose through the ranks of the Development Office to become the Museum’s first woman president.

For more information, please contact Poonam Prasad, Chairperson, WID’s 25th Anniversary Celebration Committee, at 212-755-1309 or at Prasadc@aol.com. The WID Web site is www.widny.org.

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