The Development Debrief

This week, I had a great conversation with Jim Piatt at Elon University. We talked about thinking more broadly about engagement and how all the pieces of an institution’s external community fit together. This is how Elon views its constituents: as one interconnected network. We discussed the important role parents play in philanthropy, why engagement is really a family experience, and how to think...

I had a fun conversation with Maddie about the paths that bring us into fundraising and what it’s like to build a career at the institutions we once called home. We talked about her making the transition from retail to development, growing up with dads in the industry, and how those early experiences shape the way we think about our work. We also got into leadership gifts and the shift from being...

What makes a gift truly transformational? And how do you know when a donor is ready to think and act that way? Today, we’re welcoming back Ben Porter, a principal gifts expert who joined us previously in  Episode #31 . Ben has just updated his  2017 principal gift study ,this time looking at 24 universities — and the findings offer some fascinating new insights into first-generation wealth creator...

This week, I’m joined by David Wick, a Partner and Leader of the Education and Social impact practice at Spencer Stuart. On this episode we hear about his career journey, and as a result learn how he thinks about leadership and social impact for his own career and the talent pipeline now. David’s path hasn’t been a straight line. He talks aboutbeing inspired by his grandfather and brother and how...

This week we talk with Katie Chatas who I met in New Haven through a board we are both on and she will speak from the board member and donor perspective. Katie details the exciting women’s initiative she helped launch at Williams College called The W and what it was like for her to be a volunteer and founding member of that effort. Katie loves her alma maters and debunks fears around peer solicita...

On this episode, I’m joined by Sergio Gonzalez for a conversation about taking the nontraditional path—and why bringing fresh eyes to your work can be hugely productive. Sergio shares his career journey, including the pivots and changes that shaped his path, and why he has never been afraid to question the way things have always been done. We also talk about what he has learned from working closel...

This week, I sit down with my colleague Jim Kenny, Assistant Vice President for Development, Schools and Units at Yale, to explore his career journey and the lessons he's learned along the way. In an open and candid conversation, Jim shares his insights on career growth, recognizing when it's time for a change, and positioning yourself for success. Tune in for practical advice and thoughtf...

I’m back after my wedding and honeymoon in March—and I’m coming in with a renewed mindset. One thing it reminded me of was how much I get out of this show. This podcast has always been about three things: gaining understanding, building community, and elevating voices in our field. I hope that experience is mirrored for all of you. This week, Wendy Connors talks with me about her professional jour...

For the third and final episode of the "Sustaining Your Journey" series, I’m joined by Sarah Bell — Director of Principal Giftsat Harvard Business School. Sarah has spent nearly two decades at Harvard, including 19 years at Harvard Law School, building a career rooted in connection and purpose. Sarah reflects on dedicating 19 years to one shop and all of the growth that took place during...

In this second episode of Sustaining Your Journey, we’re exploring what it means to take a nonlinear path — to start differently, not over. Tommy Bergstrom serves as Senior Associate Director of Leadership Annual Gifts with The Penn Fund, where he’s building new pipelines for engagement andphilanthropy. His career began in admissions, and his transition into development offers a look at how growth...

Welcome to 2026 with the Development Debrief. This month is a time for inner work—we are lucky to have a guest this week who is both wise and smart. This episode is about creating and building along the way. About the chapters in life we only understand in hindsight. About uncertainty, perfection, and the internal data we’reconstantly managing—often without realizing it. Boi will explore ideas lik...

In this episode, I read an article I wrote for LinkedIn that explores some of the conversations I've had recently with friends and colleagues. I'm asking the questions like around mid-career crossroads and how we decide if and when we are happy. This is the first episode in a series where I will bring guests to talk with me about this very topic.

Welcome to this Development Debrief episode sponsored by Boyden Executive Search. In this episode, we’re talking with the Texas A&M Foundation about how their culture work is transforming the way they recruit, retain, and grow talented staff. Our guests are Jill Trego and Chastity Carrigan with Texas A&M, and Wendy Wilsker with Boyden. We’ll unpack what they celebrate and what they tolerat...

In this episode, we sit down with David Kennedy, Vice President for Alumni Engagement and Development at Duke University—a leader who’s navigated some of the toughest questions in higher education today. We talk about his career, why Duke's current campaign has no dollar goal, and how they have managed making 20% cuts. David explains his north star phrase which is: our job is to fulfill the mi...

This episode is a deeply personal one. I’m honored tosit down with the 22nd President of Trinity College, JoanneBerger-Sweeney, to reflect on her remarkable leadership and the impact of the All In campaign—the most ambitious fundraising effort in the college’s history. Despite serious headwinds, All In achieved extraordinary success, thanks to Joanne’s steady vision, the dedication of Trinity’s tr...

What is your wealth's highest purpose? In this episode, we explore that question with a professional wealth advisor who is passionate about helping millennials use their resources to create real impact. We’ll dive into donor-advised funds—are you using one?—and why they matter for high-income, mid-career millennials. You’ll hear how the bunching strategy works, and a special story about his so...

Today I’m thrilled to be joined by Carolyn Vine from Robin Hood, one of New York City’s most impactful organizations fighting poverty. Robin Hood is stepping into an exciting new chapter—launching an endowment campaign that will strengthen their ability to serve the city for generations to come. Carolyn and I dive into how this initiative is taking shape, what it means for New Yorkers, and why con...

Welcome to today’s conversation with Joel Malina. Together,we talk about communications and we dive into what it means to find balance in your career, while also having big impact. Joel shares his transition from Cornell to Brunswick, what it takes to define a crisis—and respond effectively usingreflections on October 7th 2023 as a major example. You’ll hear why listening is the most important thi...

Welcome to Season 16! We’re kicking off a brand-new season with a fantastic lineup of episodes ahead, and I’m so glad you’re here. It’s been a wonderful summer in New Haven—I spent time with family, snuck away to Vermont, and reconnected with friends. One highlight was attending the Parents Fundraising Conference at NYU, hosted by Cory Williams. I had the honor of presenting during a plenary sessi...

Today’s guest, Robin Aviv, is a force in the nonprofit world—a leader who’s redefining how missions are amplified and communities are engaged. Robin is the Founder and Executive Chairperson of Generation S.O.S., a prominent non-profit organization that empowers teens and young adults to make lifesaving decisions about substance use and other mental health issues. She’ll share how the right speaker...

Today’s episode will focus on leadership and specificallytouches on the challenges of current times. We talk about how to build a high performing team regardless of your current circumstance. Craig Shelley is the President, Fundraising and Strategy Services at Carey & Co. he gives specific examples and does some forecasting on how to manage some of the challenges coming at education and non-pr...

This episode takes a deep dive into the organization Year Up. Year Up United equips students with the skills they need for success through tuition-free job training. Through access to hands-on experience and skills-first training, they help young adults achieve the future they dream of, while impacting organizations from day one.  When it comes to fundraising, Year Up stands out because they take...

The following episode is a live conversation that took place in person at the Yale Office of Alumni Affairs and Development. This interview is with Julie Braverman and Mathwon Howard, both Associate Vice Presidents at Yale. This is a fun pairing because they compare and contrast their experiences that have brought them to where they are now. If this was your first episode, please connect on Linked...

Happy Valentine’s Day! This week, we have a fun riff on You’ve Got Mail ! Our guest Ashley Budd explains why we only have 2 seconds to get someone’s attention in email. Not only does she explain the context of our high volume phenomenon, but we then talk about ways to work around this reality. Ashley has created an AI tool to help us gift officers and the two of us talk about ways I have applied i...

Welcome to season 15! There are some fun episodes in store this season. This week, we will listen to Tina Bernot reflect on the centennial campaign planning, strategy, and execution for Murray State University. She talks about how she trains her team, raises sites, and stewards big gifts. Dr. Tina Bernot is currently the executive director of advancement at Murray State University.  She has more t...