With Departure of Alan Secter, YU to Lose Another Chief Fundraiser

YU’s fundraising arm is taking a hit as Alan Secter, YU’s Executive Director of Annual Giving and Major Gifts, will be stepping down from his position at the end of next week.

A graduate of University of Toronto and then Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, Secter first joined YU in November 2010 as Associate Dean and Director of Institutional Advancement for Yeshiva College and Syms. He held that position until February 2015 when he became Executive Director of Annual Giving and Major Gifts in YU’s Office of Institutional Advancement.

As Executive Director, Secter managed a major gifts portfolio and oversaw a team of fundraisers responsible for YU’s Annual Fund. According to YU’s official news blog, “The Annual Fund is [YU’s] lifeblood,” supplying cash for daily operations, and having “an impact on nearly every aspect of the student experience.” According to the blog, “Money from the Annual Fund covers everything from scholarships and academic funding to cultural programs, faculty support, career development, infrastructure and undergraduate and graduate programs.”

Secter also ran a number of important fundraising drives such as the YU Chai and Triple Play initiatives in which major donors matched new and increased gifts, effectively doubling or even tripling many donations in 2015 and 2016. Secter also oversaw the “I Am YU” Day of Giving campaign which was run through Charidy, an online fundraising platform, and enlisted students and faculty to raise $5 million. The event was a success, raising $6 million in just twenty-four hours.

With Secter’s departure, YU will lose yet another critical leader of its fundraising team. On December 12th, Seth Moskowitz, the chief administrator of YU’s fundraising office, abruptly vacated his position of Vice President of Institutional Advancement. His departure came the morning after the Hanukkah Dinner and Convocation, YU’s biggest annual fundraising event. The university has yet to replace Moskowitz; for the time being, President Richard Joel is personally overseeing Institutional Advancement until he steps down on July 1.

After he leaves YU, Secter will join OHEL Children’s Home and Family Services as their Chief Development Officer. When asked why he is leaving YU, Secter explained that he was presented a great opportunity to work for OHEL. “I have been fortunate to work at YU for more than six years and am proud of the wonderful things we’ve accomplished,” he said. “I am grateful to my wonderful colleagues who will continue to move YU forward.”