Join us for an insightful panel discussion, "Fundraising with Integrity: Upholding Ethical Standards in a Changing Landscape." This free, online event brings together leaders from diverse fields to explore the ethical considerations that shape fundraising practices.
Experts from accounting, law, government affairs, and development will share their perspectives on maintaining transparency, upholding donor trust, and navigating complex regulatory landscapes.
Whether you're a seasoned fundraiser or new to the field, this session will provide valuable insights on ensuring your fundraising efforts align with the highest standards of integrity and accountability. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn best practices, address challenges, and hear firsthand from those shaping the future of ethical fundraising.
This is a FREE online program - but registration is required.
Click here to register.
Meet our speakers:
Meredith Celentano, Associate Vice President for Development and Alumni Affairs, Hofstra
Meredith H. Celentano has served as an executive in the not-for-profit industry for more than twenty-five years. Currently, Ms. Celentano is the Associate Vice President for Development and Alumni Affairs at Hofstra University, where she’s been since 2006. A seasoned and accomplished development professional, she has been involved in initiatives raising more than $600 million.
Ms. Celentano’s current role involves the management of 12 team members within a department that raised $49 million in the 2024 fiscal year. Ms. Celentano manages a portfolio of more than 350 major gift prospects and in the 2024 fiscal year she raised more than $1.1 million from her individual work. Ms. Celentano is involved in all strategic decision making for Hofstra’s Office for Development and Alumni Affairs and is directly responsible for the management of alumni affairs activities, prospect research, foundation relations, gift processing, data-management, special events, stewardship, and annual giving.
Since 2009, Ms. Celentano has managed the Dean’s Advisory Board for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences as well as the University’s female executive leadership group: Women in Leadership, among many other office initiatives.
Nicole Weingartner, Director of State Government Affairs, Davidoff Hutcher & Citron LLP
Nicole L. Weingartner, well-established as "The Long Island Lobbyist”, has been dedicated to aiding and assisting many of Long Island's nonprofit organizations with representation at the local, county, state and federal levels of government, securing millions of dollars in funding to essential organizations of Long Island's communities.
Nicole provides strategic advocacy support to Davidoff Hutcher & Citron’s state and local government relations clients on budgetary, legislative, and regulatory matters, the design and implementation of legislative advocacy campaigns, review of potential implications of State and/or local laws, assisting in Political Action Committee (PAC) operations (creation, management, bookkeeping, and reporting) and development of philanthropic social media campaigns.
Particularly skilled in assisting organizations and businesses that are located and/or do business on Long Island, Nicole has forged strong, valued relationships over the past fifteen years on the municipal, county, state, and federal levels allowing clients to navigate complex issues such as funding, contracting/procurement, and crisis management. She began her career serving Long Island members in the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly. Her years of experience in the Albany helps clients navigate the legislative and budget processes each year.
In addition, Nicole has been a leader within many organizations, such as serving as Co-Chair of the Viscardi Advisory Council, a member of the Board of Directors of the Association of Fundraising Professionals Long Island chapter (AFPLI), a Board Member of the AFP PAC, a member of the U.S. Government Relations Committee of the Association of Fundraising Professionals Global (AFP) as well as on the Board of the AHRC Suffolk Foundation.
Nicole enjoys speaking on topics such as lobbying, non-profits and women’s leadership as a conference speaker, panelist and moderator within the U.S. and Canada. In 2024, Nicole co-founded a Long Island centric women's networking group called "Her Long Island Influence".
Jill Scher, Partner, Marcum LLP
Jill Scher is a partner in the Tax & Business Services Division of Marcum in the Melville office and is a business developer for the Firm. With more than 25 years of public and private experience, she has an outstanding reputation for developing strong relationships and uses her diverse experience, technical proficiency, and problem-solving skills to consult with a wide range of businesses and industries.
Jill advises on tax minimization and deferral strategies for companies and their owners and is adept at recognizing tax and credit incentive opportunities, including research & development, work opportunity tax credits, and investment tax credits, to name a few. She advises clients about tax ramifications prior to potential transactions and has helped clients with the successful abatement of IRS and State penalties.
In addition, Jill has developed a specialty in the cannabis space, assisting companies with technology solutions and tax planning, and helping to forge relationships within the industry. She takes pride in assisting her network of resources within and outside of the Firm, in all aspects of client needs.
Jill shares this knowledge through frequent speaking engagements, appearing at professional and industry events on a variety of business and tax topics. She also teaches tax, technical and professional ethics classes for an outside organization, CPE, Inc., providing continuing education to CPAs within the tri-state area on individual and business tax planning and other specialty areas of taxation.