The PM Podcast

A child of the great migration, Ava Willis-Barksdale has risen from a stint as a student in the steel mills to the Vice Presidency of Lincoln University, the nation’s first degree-granting HBCU. She has made her mark in both healthcare and higher ed fundraising, demonstrating a unique capacity for combining teaching and leadership with mentoring the people in her teams, leading to the development of cultures of transformational philanthropy. Ava shared some of her journey with us in this conversation.

Amy Eisenstein, CEO and Co-Founder of the Capital Campaign Toolkit, is one of the leading voices in the field of fundraising. Amy is an AFP certified Master Trainer, former president of the board of AFP-NJ, and one of the few ACFRE designation holders in the profession. Her books include Major Gift Fundraising for Small Shops, Raising More with Less, and 50 A$ks in 50 Weeks. In our conversation, Amy gives us a window into her highly innovative approach to the campaign feasibility study, showing how she guides nonprofit leaders to greater success.

In today's episode, we speak with Brian Lacy, a long-time leader in the field of sustained giving in the US and Canada. Brian takes us on a journey from his college days at the University of Toronto through to leading the program at the University of Connecticut and, finally, running his own firm today out of Texas today. Along the way, he shares his reflections on the faith, family, and philanthropy that have sustained him in the darkest hours and given him the strength to help others navigate their own greatest challenges at work and at home. 

David Woodruff has been a key figure in some of the largest and most successful fundraising efforts in healthcare and higher education. He oversaw the $1.5 billion Campaign for the Third Century of Massachusetts General Hospital and then directed a record-setting $6 Billion Campaign for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. David joined Marts & Lundy as a consulting partner following his retirement as Associate Vice President and COO of Resource Development at MIT this month. In this episode, we speak with him about his journey, lessons learned, and opportunities for engaging the rising generation of donors.

In this episode, we speak with Karen E. Osborne, a master fundraiser, teacher, and storyteller who loves and believes in the power of philanthropy and nonprofits. She built her career around these passions not only as a frontline fundraiser, speaker, trainer, teacher, consultant, and coach but also as a donor, volunteer, and board member. She has served in senior positions at colleges and universities and, for the past 25 years, as President and now as Senior Strategist at The Osborne Group. Nationally and internationally recognized, Karen is the recipient of CASE’s Crystal Apple for Outstanding Teaching and Public Speaking and the Ashmore Award for Outstanding Service to the Profession and is an adjunct faculty member for Johns Hopkins University’s graduate certificate program in nonprofit management. Karen is also a published author. Her first novel, “Getting It Right,” debuted in 2017 followed by the thriller “Tangled Lies” in 2021. Her third novel, “Reckonings,” will be released this summer.

Today's guest is Armando Zumaya, a man who has been a significant force in major fundraising efforts since the 1980s. From door-knocking to billion dollar plus campaigns and, more recently, leading development efforts for top arts and social service institutions, Armando has become synonymous with fearless, data-driven fundraising. He is also a leading advocate for Latinx philanthropy and fundraising, putting this topic front and center through his newly formed organization, Somos El Poder. We spoke with him about the origins of this work, its importance, and the change he envisions is possible through this advocacy.

Today's guest is Lisa Wolf. She is a self-described accidental fundraiser whose work has taken her from major political campaigns to advancing the work of CURE International and now fueling the work of non-profits around the country through Westfall Gold. At the heart of it all has been a focus on building successful relationships. In our conversation, she shares details on the importance of identifying and connecting with donors, helping them to understand the case, building a community of support, and her personal reflections on the concept of generosity.

Tim Burcham's early training in musical theater provided the perfect training for a stunning career in higher education fundraising. Handpicked by his university’s president, he rose from recruitment officer to leader of a new, $900 million, 16-institution system and chair of the international board of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. Tim shares his story and tells how he is working today to help attract and mentor a rising new generation of fundraising leaders.

After leading development efforts in secondary and higher education, healthcare, the arts, human services, and faith based organizations, Linda Wise McNay founded Our Fundraising Search, where she and her colleagues guide clients with strategies in campaigns, governance, and recruiting top fundraising talent. She is the author of several books including Fundraising for Churches, Fundraising for Schools, Fundraising for Museums, the recently released Fundraising for All: What Every Nonprofit Leader Should Know.

After beginning travelling the world to protect the assets of the wealthy, fundraising icon Paul D’Alessandro pivoted to guide nonprofits to billions in philanthropic support. In today’s conversation, Paul shares the story of his own personal and professional evolution and insights on the field from his new book, “The Future Of Fundraising Is Here.”