Her Story
About Suzette (Adina)
Adina Gasser has built a distinguished career spanning more than two decades in the nonprofit sector. After beginning in the for-profit world as a software engineer, she transitioned to nonprofits, accepting a substantial pay cut in pursuit of greater purpose and improved quality of life. For over 17 years she contributed to Jewish communal organizations, handling outreach, marketing communications, and fundraising across Denver, Colorado, New York, and Israel. The past decade has seen her focus on educational fundraising as a development director for independent schools, including recent successful work in Madison, Wisconsin, where she elevated donor experiences, refreshed marketing, and moved an annual gala off-campus for the first time in a decade, breaking attendance and fundraising records. She also rebranded a Colorado school to improve community relations between 2020 and 2023. Adina is now preparing to launch her own event planning business tailored to nonprofits that lack resources for development staff, while remaining open to corporate and private events. Her advice to young professionals emphasizes seeking work that provides purpose and daily impact over higher compensation.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Suzette (Adina)
01What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I worked in the for-profit sector straight out of college and took a 70% pay cut to go into nonprofit but my quality of life improved by that 70% because I found purpose. Young people should look for work that excites them and makes a difference every day rather than chasing a big paycheck.
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