Reshma D. Persaud
Major Gifts Officer @Columbia University School of Professional Studies
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WORK HISTORY
Major Gifts Officer @Columbia University School of Professional Studies
NY, US
Manage a portfolio of high-net-worth alumni and donors supporting graduate programs across business, technology, sustainability, and public service.Partner with senior leadership, faculty, and alumni volunteers to cultivate, solicit, and steward transformational philanthropy across the School.Key Contributions & Impact• Member of the advancement team that secured the first seven-figure philanthropic gift in the history of SPS, helping expand major gift fundraising across the School.• Raised in philanthropic support for SPS while building a multi-million-dollar pipeline of prospective major gifts.• Lead extensive discovery and prospect development, conducting research and engagement with individuals rated $100M+ in giving capacity to identify new major gift opportunities.• Develop and execute customized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for five- and six-figure gifts.• Support school-wide and cross-school fundraising initiatives across Columbia, collaborating with colleagues across development teams to advance shared institutional priorities.• Contribute to major campaigns and annual giving initiatives, including efforts generating $100K+ annually through targeted donor engagement.• Help cultivate and steward program advisory boards and alumni leadership, strengthening volunteer engagement and philanthropic participation.• Drive donor engagement through events, strategic briefings, proposals, and impact reporting, building long-term relationships with alumni and philanthropic partners.• Track prospect activity, pipeline development, and engagement strategy using data-driven fundraising tools and CRM systems.
EDUCATION
New York University
Master's degree, Visual Arts Administration, Concentration in Non-Profit Management
New York University
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Art History, Criticism and Conservation, Minor: Classical Civilization
SKILLS
ABOUT RESHMA D. PERSAUD
I build philanthropic partnerships that move institutions forward.With a career rooted in major gifts, alumni relations, and strategic philanthropy, I work at the intersection of higher education, nonprofits, and global impact—helping donors translate values into lasting investment. My work spans portfolio management, donor strategy, stewardship, and storytelling, with a focus on long-term relationship building and institutional growth.I currently serve as a Major Gifts Officer at Columbia University’s School of Professional Studies, where I manage high-net-worth alumni and donors supporting graduate education across business, technology, sustainability, and public service. Previously, I’ve advanced fundraising efforts at organizations including the Institute of International Education, the International Rescue Committee, and New York University, contributing to multi-million-dollar annual goals and global initiatives.Beyond higher education, I am an Alfred Landecker Democracy Senior Fellow with Humanity in Action, where my work centers on amplifying the voices of women and gender-nonconforming individuals, supporting survivors of domestic violence, and strengthening democratic and community-based organizing efforts across the U.S, Latin America, Africa, and India.My background in the arts, culture, and real estate informs a multidisciplinary approach to development, grounded in design, strategy, and relationship intelligence. I believe that effective philanthropy is both analytical and deeply human.I’m motivated by mission-driven work, values-aligned leadership, and building systems that create opportunity, dignity, and lasting impact.
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