I’ve spent over thirty years in nonprofit development and advancement — working closely with donors and families to raise major and transformational gifts while also creating and overseeing board, major-gift, planned giving, and campaign programs at places like Johns Hopkins, the Peabody Institute, and West Virginia University Foundation. Through my consulting business, Cedarcroft Advisors, I’ve also conducted campaign feasibility studies and built major gift programs for organizations navigating growth and change. But what’s given me the most energy across all of that work has been the moments on the donor side of the table — helping an individual or family figure out what they actually care about and connecting that passion to something meaningful they can support. That’s become the real focus of my work now: less about organizational strategy and more about helping individuals and families have greater impact with their giving — grounded in their own interests, values, and perspective, not just an institution’s ask. I’d love to connect with anyone thinking about philanthropy this way, or looking for a thought partner as they figure out where and how they want to create the most meaningful impact and create their own legacy.
Let us know if you’d like to be introduced to this advisor.
