Talent Citizen is pleased to announce that Dana Gillette has been named Director of Gift Planning at Mount Holyoke College after a competitive national search. As Director, Dana will lead a highly productive gift planning team with the unique opportunity to increase the program’s reach and complexity in concert with gift officers and senior leaders at the College.
Previously, Dana served as the Assistant Director of Gift Planning at Mount Holyoke College, stepping into the Interim Director of Gift Planning role in August 2023. Dana has increased impact by renewing marketing strategies, expanding collaboration with colleagues, and cultivating a diverse portfolio of alums and friends that has resulted in numerous impactful legacy gifts to Mount Holyoke.
Dana has more than 20 years of experience working with nonprofits and mission-driven organizations in advancement, including fundraising, communications, volunteer and member engagement, and strategic planning. Prior to joining Mount Holyoke College in 2016, Dana served as Development Director at the Connecticut River Conservancy and as Associate Director of Development & Communications and Managing Director for Class Action. Earlier in her career, Dana was a fundraising and communications consultant, and Development Director at the Peace Development Fund.
With more than seven years of service to Mount Holyoke and as an alum of a Seven Sisters college, Dana’s commitment to the mission of education and social justice is unwavering. Dana is a member of the Planned Giving Group of New England and has presented for the Association of Fundraising Professionals Western Massachusetts Chapter and Women in Philanthropy. She previously served as a board leader for Temenos Retreat Center and Resource Generation. Dana earned a Bachelor of Arts in Women’s Studies from Barnard College, and she is a graduate of the Leadership Pioneer Valley program for emerging leaders.
Talent Citizen President Tracy Welsh, Managing Associate Rachel K. Partin, and Associate José Cisneros led this search.