RAISE Podcast

About Jonathan: Jonathan Purvis is a respected leader in higher education advancement with over 20 years of experience. He was named Butler University’s Vice President for Advancement on April 16th, 2018. Purvis leads the public fundraising phase of Butler Beyond: The Campaign for Butler University which surpassed it’s $250 million goal in February 2022. The largest campaign in the University’s hi...

About Stephen: Stephen is currently the Associate Vice President for Development at Brandeis University where he leads major and principal gifts, leadership annual giving, planned giving, and direct marketing. He is playing an integral role in shaping the direction of a future campaign to support the aspirations and goals of the Brandeis community. Stephen previously served as the Senior Director...

“I did it all.” After two years at Cottey College, Kimera transferred and ultimately graduated from the University of Wyoming with a degree in journalism. After graduation, she returned to Cottey to serve as their one-person Public Relations shop in charge of news media, publications, and photography. “This is a job I think I can do.” After Cottey, Kimera found her way to the PR office at Emporia...

Andy A. Jhanji joined the Florida State University Foundation in August 2011 as executive vice president, overseeing the Foundation’s day-to-day operations and advancement strategy. Andy recently assumed the additional responsibilities of Interim Vice President of University Advancement. Jhanji has worked in public higher education for three decades. Before arriving at FSU, his most recent positio...

Deb Taft is CEO and co-owner of Lindauer, a global search and talent firm serving nonprofits in the education, health and science, arts and culture, policy and advocacy, and civic and social justice arenas. An innovative leader in the education, healthcare/academic medicine, youth services and voluntary sectors, Deb was Senior EVP and Managing Director for Grenzebach Glier and Associates (GG+A) in...

Brent Grinna began his career in investment banking in Chicago at William Blair & Company and then Madison Dearborn Partners. Prior to founding EverTrue, he received his MBA with honors from Harvard Business School. With Brent’s leadership, EverTrue participated in Techstars Boston, was selected as a winner of MassChallenge, and secured top investors, such as Bain Capital Ventures. Brent serve...

June Bradham is a widely recognized business leader and fundraising expert. Under her guidance and with her hands-on approach, she and her team at CDM (formerly Corporate DevelopMint) have led more than 200 successful fundraising campaigns ranging from $3 million to more than $100 Million. June founded Corporate DevelopMint in 1987. In 2018, Corporate DevelopMint rebranded as CDM: Change Develop M...

Louis Diez is an expert in annual fund development, digital fundraising, and engagement strategies. He currently serves as the Executive Director of Annual Giving at Muhlenberg College. Previously, he was Director of the Annual Fund and Development Business Operations at the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and Associate Director of Development at Johns Hopkins SAIS. In this last role, he led annual g...

Erin has more than 20 years of experience serving fundraising professionals. She began her career in prospect research and has gone on to oversee areas as diverse as advancement services, operations, donor relations, communications, alumni relations, and annual giving. For eight years, Erin was the campaign director for DePaul University’s largest and most successful fundraising effort, the Many D...