Trends/Analysis

Tim Sarrantonio has spent nearly 15 years helping nonprofits use technology to understand generosity and strengthen community. A former fundraiser for organizations of all sizes and missions, he now serves as chair of the Fundraising Effectiveness Project, turning national data into practical insights for fundraisers and leaders. Tim has spoken at conferences including AFP ICON, Nonprofit Technology Conference, and TEDx, and he holds a certificate in philanthropic psychology from the Institute for Sustainable Philanthropy. He lives in Niskayuna, New York, with his wife and three daughters, where he finds inspiration in the Adirondacks and in the everyday labor that keeps generosity alive.

Willis Turner believes great writing has the power to change minds, save lives, and make people want to  dance and sing. Willis is the creative director at Huntsinger & Jeffer. He worked as a lead writer and creative director in the traditional advertising world for more than 15 years before making the switch to fundraising 20 years ago. In his work with nonprofit organizations and associations, he has written thousands of appeals, renewals and acquisition communications for every medium. He creates direct-response campaigns, and collateral communications materials that get attention, tell powerful stories and persuade people to take action or make a donation.

Bill Stanczykiewicz, Ed.D., serves as senior assistant dean for external relations at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, where he also directs The Fund Raising School.

Robin Koelsch is chief partnership engagement officer at Communities In Schools of Chicago. She applies her 20-plus years of experience in community impact and education to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life.

Jason B. Zwang, CFRE, is an accomplished coach and leader in fundraising, recognized for a proven track record successfully qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding principal gifts and establishing enduring frameworks for growth. His deep understanding of donor psychology, best practices and philanthropic frameworks allows him to foster lasting relationships and guide donors toward sustained philanthropy. Skilled in navigating complex donor agreements and managing international gifts, Jason has a comprehensive grasp of the donor lifecycle, from immediate cash donations to major and principal gifts, as well as planned giving.

Jason has been a top performing frontline major gifts fundraiser for nearly two decades at national brands, including Habitat for Humanity International, Emory University, Hartford HealthCare and the University of Connecticut, and has consulted with scores of organizations around the globe on major gifts fundraising and the transition between transaction to transformation. He has personally raised many tens of millions for high-impact organizations. 

Jason is a principal architect at The Giving Group, a major gifts coaching platform that equips, trains and supports executives and lay leaders with fundraising responsibility, designed to enhance donor interactions, transitioning from mere transactions to meaningful engagement. His leadership extends to managing both immediate and interdisciplinary teams, with a strong commitment to mentorship and leadership development.

Christopher Burke is a senior adviser at WMC Africa, a communications and advisory agency located in Kampala, Uganda. With more than 30 years of experience, he has worked extensively on social, political and economic development issues focused on extractives, environmental issues, land governance, agriculture, community mobilization, public health, advocacy, communications, conflict mediation and peace-building in Asia and Africa.

Elizabeth O. Manchester is chair of Partridge, Snow & Hahn LLP's Nonprofit & Tax-Exempt Practice Group. She represents tax-exempt entities, centered on compliance, formation, charitable gift planning issues and best practices. Liz has extensive experience assisting institutions with the inception of planned giving programs, as well as corporate governance matters and maintenance of tax-exempt status. She advises charitable institutions and institutions of higher learning about tax benefits available to donors, to assist in discussions with donors to appropriately advance the organization’s mission.