Fundraising Day

Our event has a new name!

NOT YOUR AVERAGE FUNDRAISING DAY is AFP-CNY’s largest professional development event, designed for anyone working in the nonprofit field. Whether you're a fundraiser or not, this conference offers valuable learning opportunities, networking, and collaboration with peers and community partners at all experience levels. Invest in your growth, expand your network, and gain insights to strengthen your impact. Don’t miss this chance to learn, connect, and advance your career!

Meet Our Speakers

Maya Gasuk

Maya is committed to supporting and championing the efforts of her clients by providing strategy, inspiration, and motivation to help clients achieve goals – whether for campaigns, annual fund programs, or increased engagement. Maya brings 35 years of fundraising experience to her work at West Wind Consulting, and her analytical and problem-solving skills create exceptional results – as a practitioner in the past, and as a consultant today.

Maya graduated Magna Cum Laude from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. She began her fundraising career as a freshman student caller, asking alumni and parents for gifts, and has never stopped fundraising.

As a practitioner, during her 19-year career at Cornell University, Maya set new records in giving, tripled the endowment during her college’s campaign, and then grew the annual fund from $10 million to $27 million in unrestricted revenue per year during her tenure as Annual Fund Director for the University. Maya was honored to serve a four-year term as member of Cornell University Council in recognition of her leadership and service to the University, and currently serves as a Community Fellow.  She recently completed a 6-year term as a board member for a local community organization, chairing both the Development Committee and Nominating Committee.

Having served for 13 years as a volunteer rowing coach in her community, Maya has a passion for teaching and leading teams to greater levels of achievement and satisfaction, and is a regularly requested speaker for CASE, AFP, and other organizations across the country. 

Jan Lane

Jan Lane is a Senior Philanthropic Advisor at the Central New York Community Foundation and has been with the foundation since 2013. Jan supports charitable planning for individuals, families and organizations and facilitates the Foundation’s legacy planning program. Jan holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and Studio Art, as well as a Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy^® (CAP) designation. She is a graduate of Leadership Greater Syracuse and a former board member for Syracuse Improv Collective. Jan joined the AFP-CNY board in 2024 and holds various memberships with Community Living Advocates, Eastwood Rotary and the Upstate New York Planned Giving Council. Jan lives in Strathmore with her husband Patrick, her son Jude and their two cats.

Renee Hagar-Smith

Renee Hagar-Smith is a visionary leadership coach, dedicated to empowering individuals and organizations to reach their highest potential.

With a holistic approach, she nourishes leadership practices rooted in emotional intelligence, deep-level authenticity, compassion, intuition, and the wisdom of the divine feminine.

A suicide loss survivor, Renee is passionate about helping others grow, heal and find purpose. As the founder of the CNY Leaders’ Circle, she's committed to fostering a supportive community for leaders in Central New York and beyond.