The PM Podcast

Kay Sprinkel Grace is one of the most respected voices in global fundraising and board leadership. As the founder of Transforming Philanthropy, she has worked with over 1,000 organizations worldwide and authored seven influential books, including "Beyond Fundraising" and "The AAA Way to Fundraising Success." Her impact has been recognized with some of the sector’s highest honors, including the Henry A. Rosso Medal for lifetime achievement in ethical fundraising, the AFP Distinguished Fellow designation, and AFP’s Global Fundraising Professional of the Year award. We spoke with her about the arc of her life and work, from her earliest memories as a fifth-generation Californian to her international travels and her most personal books to date. 

Sydney Moss is a junior at Dunwoody High School in Georgia and one of two recipients of the 2025 William R. Simms Award for Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy, presented by the Association of Fundraising Professionals. Born with a rare liver disease, Sydney turned her health journey into a mission—launching Concert for a Cause while awaiting a transplant. Since then, she’s raised over $75,000 for biliary atresia research at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and recently established the Sydney Moss Fund. We spoke with her live at AFP ICON in Seattle.

Xavier “Javi” Swinarski is a junior at Gilmour Academy and one of two recipients of the 2025 William R. Simms Award for Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy, presented by the Association of Fundraising Professionals. Javi launched his annual “SOCKtober” sock drive in the fourth grade after learning that socks are the most requested item in homeless shelters. Since then, he has mobilized classmates, local organizations, and national partners to collect and distribute tens of thousands of pairs of socks, including more than 22,000 in 2024 alone. We spoke with him live at ICON, AFP’s international conference in Seattle, Washington.

Brian Marquez-Hall is a Development Officer at the Southern Scholarship Foundation and one of two recipients of the 2025 Outstanding Young Professional award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals. From launching inclusive initiatives and tripling donor gifts at Elder Care Services to raising $100,000 in just ten weeks at SSF, Brian has consistently delivered results rooted in equity, innovation, and authentic engagement. We spoke with him live at ICON, the association’s international conference in Seattle, Washington.

Dwayne Ashley is the Founder and CEO of Bridge Philanthropic Consulting, the nation’s only full-service Black-owned fundraising firm. A passionate champion for social justice, he has raised over $2 billion to support communities of color. With more than 30 years of experience, he’s a respected leader, author, and advocate for equity in philanthropy. We spoke with Dwayne about his personal and professional journey—beginning with the family influence that first sparked his commitment to service.

Roger Ali is Chair of the AFP Global Board and one of the most respected voices in nonprofit leadership. With more than two decades in the field, he has led teams that have raised over $150 million through transformative capital campaigns and major gift strategies, holding senior roles at Niagara Health Foundation, Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation, and The Bishop Strachan School Foundation. Today, Roger is an independent consultant specializing in governance, major gifts, campaign strategy, and staff development. He also serves as a Senior Associate with S. Sutton & Associates, advising nonprofits across sectors. A lifelong champion of ethical and inclusive philanthropy, Roger sits on the board of Imagine Canada and has held numerous leadership roles with AFP, including Past Chair of the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy Canada and President of the AFP Golden Horseshoe Chapter. We spoke with him about his personal and professional journey and how it led to his role in chairing the world’s largest fundraising association today.  

Abby Trahan is the Associate Director of Philanthropy at MD Anderson Cancer Center and one of two recipients of the 2025 Outstanding Young Professional award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals. In just five years, Abby has delivered transformational fundraising results—from growing monthly giving at the Houston Food Bank to securing major gifts and endowed support at the University of Houston Law Center. Now at MD Anderson, she brings her passion for equity, mentorship, and community-driven impact to one of the nation’s leading cancer centers. We spoke with her live at ICON, the association’s international conference in Seattle, Washington.

Martha Schumacher is a global philanthropy strategist, leadership coach, and past chair of AFP International. As President of Hazen Consulting and founder of the Hazen Institute for Leadership Training, she’s spent over 25 years helping mission-driven organizations grow their impact—and their people. In this conversation, we explore the trails she has taken, both literally and figuratively, beginning with one near where she lives today. 

Professor Jen Shang is Co-Founder and Director of the Institute for Sustainable Philanthropy, and the world’s only philanthropic psychologist. She was the first person to earn a PhD in Philanthropy, and her research on donor identity and meaning has been featured in the New York Times, BBC, and Chronicle of Philanthropy. In 2025, she received AFP’s prestigious Skystone Prize for Meaningful Philanthropy, co-authored with Dr. Adrian Sargeant—a book exploring how giving shapes the lives of high-net-worth donors. We spoke with her live at AFP ICON, the association’s international conference in Seattle.

Jeff Schreifels is Principal at Veritus Group and co-author of It’s Not JUST About the Donor. With over 35 years in nonprofit fundraising, he’s helped thousands of professionals create meaningful donor relationships and raise more money with integrity and heart. In this episode, we begin not in the office—but on the road—with Jeff’s 1,000-mile bike journey at the age of fourteen.