First to Third Sector
Fundraising advising built on fundamentals
I have spent twenty years in fundraising, working on gifts across the spectrum, from annual and leadership gifts to major gifts, principal gifts, and planned gifts. I have seen firsthand the work that is required to build meaningful relationships that allow an organization to maximize donors' philanthropic impact. There are no shortcuts to building the trust that is needed to bring donors in as partners who are inspired to invest in an organization's mission.
What I Do
I partner with nonprofit leaders and donors on major gifts strategy, fundraising infrastructure, and gift officer development.
- Major gifts strategy — portfolio review, moves management, and pipeline building that helps build meaningful relationships that align a donor's interests with organizational needs.
- Gift officer coaching — for frontline fundraisers who need help on any aspect of the work: identifying, qualifying, cultivating, asking, or stewarding.
- Campaign readiness — to help assess where an organization stands currently and identify any gaps before committing to any major investments or changes.
- Board and leadership fundraising education — helping non-fundraisers understand what the job requires, empowering them to build relationships and partner most effectively with fundraisers.
How I Work
Every fundraiser or CEO has heard some version of the same question: this person is wealthy and philanthropic; let's go ask them for money." A lot of energy gets spent chasing leads and ideas like this. My twenty years in fundraising have shown me time and time again that it's about excelling in the fundamentals that helps build a truly sustainable and excellent operation.
I will work with you to identify how you can build the systems and culture that form the foundation of a fundraising team that exceeds goals year over year.
Who I Work With
I work with organizations and nonprofit leaders who need help identifying where to allocate their time and resources and the details that may be hindering success.
I work with donors who want to align their giving with their values better.
Research
Alongside my advising and coaching, I run an ongoing research project analyzing the foundations of major sports teams and players. I have started with MLB team foundations, using my IMPACT+ scoring system, a standardized way to compare foundation giving across all clubs.