For the second year in a row, Columbia University’s M.S. in Nonprofit Management (NOPM) program co-sponsored the Yale Alumni Nonprofit Alliance (YANA) Social Impact Conference. NOPM lecturer Astrid Andre, a Yale University Law School alumna and YANA board member, attended the conference along with three current NOPM students.
The opportunity reflects the program’s broader commitment to connecting students with meaningful professional experiences beyond the classroom. Through guidance from experienced scholar-practitioner faculty, students receive academic support, career advisement, and direct access to networks across the nonprofit sector—opening doors to mentorship, collaboration, and employment.
An annual gathering dedicated to advancing collaboration, innovation, and leadership in the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors, the YANA Conference began in New York City in 2011 and has grown into a network of more than 8,000 members. The conference brings together practitioners, executives, and students committed to driving equitable and sustainable social change through service, advocacy, and the arts.
The 2025 Social Impact Conference featured keynote speakers, panel discussions, and interactive workshops exploring themes of equity, storytelling, and impact-driven strategic planning. Attendees engaged in conversations about how the philanthropic sector can more effectively harness creativity, data, and empathy to address today’s most pressing social challenges.
NOPM student LeShunta Sanders attended the conference and reflected on the insights she gained.
“At the YANA Conference, I gained valuable insights from Elizabeth Alexander, president of the Mellon Foundation. Her discussion on the power of storytelling and the arts in promoting social justice and cultural understanding resonated deeply with me,” Sanders said. “Her emphasis on equity and inclusion challenged me to consider how I can use my own skills to create access and opportunities for others. Alexander’s vision reminded me that authentic leadership requires both imagination and a sense of responsibility toward our shared humanity.”
For Sanders and her peers, the YANA Social Impact Conference was more than a day of panels and conversations—it was an opportunity to see the principles they study in action. By connecting students with leaders shaping the future of philanthropy and social impact, the NOPM program reinforces its commitment to preparing graduates who lead with strategy, creativity, and purpose. Experiences like this not only deepen classroom learning but also expand students’ professional networks and sense of possibility as they move forward in their careers.
About the Program
Columbia University’s M.S. in Nonprofit Management prepares graduates for leadership roles within mission-driven organizations in a wide variety of contexts, including global and community nonprofits, foundations, education, healthcare, the arts, or as fundraising and development experts.
Learn more about the program here. The program is available part-time, full-time, on-campus, and online.
