
Senior Editor, FundraisingCoach.com and author of "Ask Without Fear!"
Lewiston/Auburn, Maine Area

Senior Editor, FundraisingCoach.com and author of "Ask Without Fear!"
Lewiston/Auburn, Maine Area
I'm the author of "Ask Without Fear!" and founder of FundraisingCoach.com, a website dedicated to practical ideas for fundraising more effectively.
My enthusiasm for fundraising has caught the attention of such organizations as Reuters, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the Chronicle of Philanthropy, and the American Marketing Association. My high-engergy presentations at conferences and fundraising seminars get him invited to various organizations like Blackbaud’s Conferences for Nonprofits, Habitat for Humanity International, the New England Association for Healthcare Philanthropy, and the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
I passionately believe anyone can learn to ask for money.
Back before Facebook and Twitter, I created the Creating Donor Evangelists program and other tools to help you excel at raising money available at the Fundraising Coach Store.
Currently, I am the Director of the Foundation of Inland Hospital. Previously, I planted a Vineyard church and pastored it for a few years. I am also the husband to my best friend, and father of three amazing kids.
And if you see me driving by, I’ll probably be singing 80’s tunes loud enough to embarass my family.
Fundraising training, keynote speaking, leadership coaching, nonprofit marketing, goal setting
(Philanthropy industry)
January 2005 — Present (4 years 11 months)
The Inland Foundation raises philanthropic support for Inland Hospital and Lakewood, a continuing care center. In my time here, I've helped the Foundation move from only raising $60,000 - $80,000 a year to raising $250,000 - $500,000 each year.
As Director of a one person department, I oversaw all aspects of fundraising: annual giving, major gifts, capital campaigns, planned giving, fundraising events, grants, and Children's Miracle Network. (Fortunately I had back office support at the healthcare system level!)
I was also responsible for the Healing Arts Gallery, a space for local artist to sell their work.
(Fund-Raising industry)
June 1999 — Present (10 years 6 months)
Building on my speaking, and on my Franklin Covey coach traning, I started FundraisingCoach.com to expand my writing and training. Through fundraising seminars & keynotes and nonprofit training & executive coaching, I help volunteers and professionals hone their ability to ask for money and to create donor evangelists.
(Non-Profit; Non-Profit Organization Management industry)
July 2007 — July 2009 (2 years 1 month)
As the chair person for Club Administration, I manage all aspects of the weekly club meetings including overseeing the programs and being a liaison with the meeting locations. Of all my positions, this one really draws on my networking ability as I work with a team of people to produce interesting speakers for all aspects of our community's life.
This position is also responsible for galas, fellowship activities, and the ubiquitous "other duties as assigned." *grin*
(Religious Institutions industry)
December 2004 — June 2008 (3 years 7 months)
Since 1989, I'd wanted to pastor a "church plant": a church that started from nothing. In the fall of 2004, I had that opportunity. My wife and I moved to Waterville, ME and founded the Vineyard Church of Waterville.
In just 3 1/2 years, VCW touched over 5000 individuals with practical ways of showing God's love. We had hundreds of visitors. But we rarely grew beyond 20-25 on a Sunday...and half of those were under 10!
After closing down and reflecting, my wife and I decided to move on. We found out we're very good leading and managing a small group of people to do extraordinary things. But we weren't good at drawing a crowd--a necessary skill of church planters!
(Fund-Raising industry)
2000 — 2005 (5 years )
APC was the oldest and longest running national organization dedicated to helping independent schools work with alumni and raise money. This position allowed me to get to see how schools all over the country were going about fundraising, training parents, and engaging alumni.
(Fund-Raising industry)
January 1999 — February 2003 (4 years 2 months)
I started at Stony Brook as the Alumni Director over seeing class reps and young alum events. But with my development background, I was always fundraising too. Here we completed a successful $7 million campaign, including raising the last $100,000 primarily through email.
I was then promoted to the Director of Individual Gifts which was responsible for managing a full major giving portfolio and creating a planned giving society. This position included management responsibilities within the development office. Both positions required about 50% travel so I learned to manage my time well while on the road.
(Educational Institution; 201-500 employees; Higher Education industry)
June 1997 — January 1999 (1 year 8 months)
This is where I got my professional start in fundraising, right in the middle of a multi-million dollar capital campaign. My first ask was for $100,000! In addition to piloting young alum events and managing a parents' committee, my main responsibilities included organizing regional campaign committees to host campaign receptions.
(Educational Institution; 201-500 employees; Higher Education industry)
June 1995 — June 1997 (2 years 1 month)
I was responsible for all individual visits by prospective students and their families as well as managing the entire volunteer student tour guide team. I was also responsible for managing and meeting goals for my own recruitment territory.
MA , Organizational Leadership , 2000 — 2002
BA , History & Biblical Studies , 1991 — 1995
1989 — 1991
coffee, fundraising, marketing, gen x, books, leadership, Hebrew, rabbinics
New England Association of Healthcare Philanthropy, Rotary, FirstPark/KRDA, CharityChannel.com, KVConnect, Blogosphere, GuideStar Advisory Forum, LinkedIn Answers, Facebook
Multiple "Top 10 Speaker" awards for Blackbaud's Conferences for Nonprofits