Vice President of Development & Events

Tarnisha Smart

Tarnisha Smart is Vice President of Development and Events. In this role, she oversees all development operations and events including donor stewardship; annual appeals; programmatic, cultivation, and fundraising events; liaison with the Board of Directors and management of the Associate Board. In addition, Tarnisha works closely with the CEO and Chief Development Officer to plan fundraising strategies, and, with the Finance Department, to provide support for financial reporting, annual audit and fiscal budget preparation.

Prior to working at CEE, Tarnisha was the Assistant Director of Operations and Research at the New York Women’s Foundation (NYWF), where she worked closely with the Vice President of Development assisting with all aspects of development operations and research including database management, cultivation events, and annual appeals.

Prior to NYWF, Tarnisha worked at Cardinal Hayes High School, an all-boys catholic school in the Bronx, New York. Tarnisha was the Assistant Development Director and worked with the Development Director in all fundraising efforts; provided support for a $10M Capital Campaign; database management; events; appeals; and publications design.

Tarnisha served on the Membership Committee of Women in Development New York, and on the Circle of Sisters for Social Change Committee at the New York Women’s Foundation. Tarnisha graduated from Drake Business School.