Let me introduce myself

As a first-generation college alumna, I witnessed the transformational power of education and of philanthropy and am committed to bringing those benefits to the institutions with which I partner. Recognizing that fundraising is an art and a science, I help clients enhance their data-based decision-making and strengthen their relationship-based fundraising and engagement efforts.

Since 2019, I have consulted with educational institutions and other nonprofits to provide services that include analyzing and interpreting historic and current results; assessing readiness for annual, capital, and comprehensive campaigns; making recommendations and partnering with clients through the implementation process; coaching and training staff and volunteers; and building the infrastructure required to manage and execute fundraising and engagement efforts.

Before becoming a consultant, I spent over 25 years in higher education and worked on five major fundraising campaigns, including three with goals over $1B. I led the annual funds at Harvard and Brown, served for three years as chair of the Annual Giving Directors’ Consortium, and received the Diane Thompson Award from the Northeast Annual Giving Conference. I also led prospect management, database conversion, and advancement information technology teams and helped establish the Alumni of Color Initiative, a comprehensive fundraising effort which engaged self-identified African American, Asian American, Latinx, Native American, and multiracial alumni in philanthropy to Brown University.

I’m a frequent conference speaker and organizer and received the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education’s (CASE) Crystal Apple Teaching Award. I am the author of an article on the effective use of challenge gifts (Currents, March 2011) as well as two chapters in Donor Relations:  The Essential Guide to Stewardship Policies, Procedures, and Protocol (CASE, 1999) and was named a CASE Laureate.

I volunteer as a high school debate coach and am currently president of the Massachusetts Speech & Debate League. I earned my bachelor’s degree magna cum laude in History and Science (medieval and Renaissance astronomy) from Harvard College and my Ed.M. in higher education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Photo of Tammie Ruda, founder. She is smiling, wearing glasses, a black sweater and a colorful scarf, and posing with her hands crossed.

My Approach to Consulting

These principles guide my work:

  • Every organization is unique, and I need to listen and understand yours

  • There are best practices and proven techniques that can be adapted and applied at many institutions

  • History should inform the future, but it doesn’t dictate it

  • Data is powerful; it tells a story

  • People and relationships must always be at the heart of your work

  • I will tell you what you need to hear, even if it’s not what you want to hear

  • I consider myself part of your team, and I want you to succeed

Select Partners

An image of Maya Gasuk wearing glasses and a dark pinstripe suit, posing for a professional portrait.

Maya Gasuk, Managing Partner

Maya is committed to supporting and championing the efforts of her clients by providing strategy, inspiration, and motivation to help clients achieve goals – whether for campaigns, annual fund programs, or increased engagement. Maya brings 35 years of fundraising experience to her work at West Wind Consulting, and her analytical and problem-solving skills create exceptional results – as a practitioner in the past, and as a consultant today.

Maya graduated Magna Cum Laude from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. She began her fundraising career as a freshman student caller, asking alumni and parents for gifts, and has never stopped fundraising.

As a practitioner, during her 19-year career at Cornell University, Maya set new records in giving, tripled the endowment during her college’s campaign, and then grew the annual fund from $10 million to $27 million in unrestricted revenue per year during her tenure as Annual Fund Director for the University.  

Having served for 13 years as a volunteer rowing coach in her community, Maya has a passion for teaching and leading teams to greater levels of achievement and satisfaction, and is a regularly requested speaker for CASE, AFP, and other organizations across the country.