Nonprofit development leader brings mission-oriented fundraising expertise to the global support center in service to opportunity youth around the world
YouthBuild USA has announced the appointment of Alaina (Spaziani) Tassinari as its new Major Gifts Officer. In this role, she spearheads YouthBuild USA’s individual philanthropic strategy, empowering donors to support YouthBuild USA’s global partnership with opportunity youth—young adults between the ages of 16 and 24 who are neither in school nor employed—as they pursue their education, prepare for future careers and grow into community leaders.
Tassinari is responsible for identifying, engaging and stewarding individual donors. Her work will support the YouthBuild movement across its more than 280 local programs, championing young leaders as they reclaim their education, gain job skills and grow into community leaders. She will drive forward YouthBuild USA’s Major Gifts strategy to supplement institutional giving efforts, expanding and sustaining ambitious programmatic goals at the local, national, and global levels.
Tassinari joins the global nonprofit from the Boston-based Trustees of Reservations, where she was managing director of its campaign strategy and development operations, and responsible for managing a $200 million, five-year comprehensive capital campaign.
“We are extremely excited to welcome Alaina to the YouthBuild USA team,” said John Valverde, president and CEO of YouthBuild USA. “Her focus on mission-based stewardship and the cultivation of strong financial support from more people who stand for our vital mission, will help us sustain and expand our partnership with opportunity youth for decades to come. Her drive and commitment to excellence will reverberate in local programs around the world, in service to the next generation of young leaders. I’m so grateful to have her on the team.”
“I am thrilled to join YouthBuild USA and to raise up the voices of opportunity youth across the U.S. and around the world,” said Tassinari. “I am excited to elevate the life-changing work happening at hundreds of YouthBuild programs here and abroad, and to build the additional support needed to champion thousands of young people as they reach their full potential.”
In YouthBuild programs, opportunity youth pursue their education, prepare for future careers, and grow into community leaders, building brighter futures for themselves and their neighborhoods. With love and respect, YouthBuild partners with opportunity youth to build the skillsets and mindsets that lead to lifelong learning, livelihood and leadership. Responding to the urgent need for knowledge, training and opportunity, YouthBuild primarily serves young people who lack a high school diploma and financial resources.
YouthBuild USA is the nonprofit support center for a global network of more than 280 local YouthBuild programs in 15 countries, with 223 programs in 47 U.S. states and territories and 61 programs in 14 other countries.
Tassinari received her bachelor’s degree in public relations from Suffolk University. She currently lives in Charlestown, Massachusetts.
