Russell James, J.D., Ph.D., CFP® is a professor in the School of Financial Planning at Texas Tech University where he directs the on-campus and online graduate program in Charitable Financial Planning (planned giving).  He graduated, cum laude, from the University of Missouri School of Law where he was a member of the Missouri Law Review and received the United Missouri Bank Award for Most Outstanding Work in Gift and Estate Taxation and Planning. He also holds a Ph.D. in consumer economics from the University of Missouri, where his dissertation was on charitable giving.  

Prior to his career as an academic researcher, Dr. James worked as the Director of Planned Giving for Central Christian College in Moberly, Missouri for 6 years and later served as president of the college for more than 5 years, where he had direct and supervisory responsibility for all fundraising. During his presidency the college successfully completed two major capital campaigns, built several new debt-free buildings, and more than tripled enrollment.

Dr. James has published research in over 75 peer-reviewed scientific journal and law review articles and has been quoted on charitable and financial issues in a variety of news sources including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, ABC News, U.S. News & World Report, USA Today, the Associated Press, The Economist, Bloomberg News and the Chronicle of Philanthropy and his financial neuroimaging research was profiled in The Wall Street Journal’s Smart Money Magazine.  He is a member of the Hall of Fame of the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners.

Richard D. Jones is the Founder and Executive Director of the Respond2Grace Foundation, a faith-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit headquartered in Clinton, Maryland. The Foundation was born out of Mr. Jones’s deeply personal and transformative experience with housing insecurity more than two decades ago. For 529 consecutive days, Mr. Jones lived without stable housing. Yet, in the midst of adversity, he pursued his faith and future by enrolling in Cottonwood School of Ministry, where he earned his degree in Biblical Studies.
 
 Since then, Mr. Jones has dedicated his life to serving God and serving the housing insecure community. Under his leadership, Respond2Grace operates through a unique model of prevention, transformation, and restoration, engaging data-driven solutions and community-based coalitions—called the Alliance of Grace—to holistically address the root causes of homelessness.
 
 A proud graduate of Florida State University and a committed member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Mr. Jones brings a wealth of experience from the corporate and healthcare sectors. His impressive professional résumé includes leadership roles such as Vice President, Director of Business Development, and senior advisory positions within healthcare organizations, where he strategically advanced community health outcomes and organizational growth.
 
 In addition to his nonprofit and corporate accomplishments, Mr. Jones serves as the Associate Pastor of New Hope Fellowship Church, where he helps lead a vibrant ministry that reaches the housing insecure population with food, water, clothing, shelter—and most importantly, the Word of God. He believes ministry is not confined to the pulpit, but must be lived out in the streets where pain and promise intersect.
 
 Mr. Jones is happily married to Dr. Sherita McLamore Jones, a distinguished professional in her own right, and they are the proud parents of their son, Isaiah Richard Jones. Despite his many titles and accomplishments, Mr. Jones humbly declares that his greatest achievements are being a husband, a father, and a child of God.
 
 With a heart forged through hardship and a purpose anchored in faith, Richard D. Jones is a voice of hope, a vessel of service, and a living testimony that grace is not only sufficient—it transforms.

Robert Grabel is a fundraiser, coach, and author who is passionate about helping leaders in the nonprofit sector realize their potential and make a meaningful impact on the world.

Robert spent over a decade in financial services, working as a banker, financial advisor, and wholesaler. He then made a purposeful career shift into the nonprofit sector, leveraging his skills to advance philanthropic efforts. Over the years, he has raised millions of dollars in support of senior care, homeless services, education, youth development, healthier lifestyles, and the fight against heart disease, cancer, and type 1 diabetes. His experience ranges from launching a start-up charity to serving in senior leadership roles for national and local organizations.
 

Robert’s proudest accomplishment was founding Teens Run Westchester, a nonprofit that used distance running to teach young people about setting goals, persevering through challenges, and achieving success.

Robert lives in his hometown of Philadelphia with his wife, Kimberly, and their Labrador Retriever, Casey. He enjoys being just a short drive from his mom, daughter, and son-in-law. In his free time, Robert writes and plays original music, runs half and full marathons, and recently fulfilled a lifelong dream of becoming an ice hockey goalie.

Robert has authored Gifts from Mom: 7 Tips for Finding Light in the Darkness of Dementia and Just Do the Work: The Portable Nonprofit Coach. He is also a regular contributor on Medium.

You can reach Robert at [email protected]

Bala has a wide variety of experience both in business, member-based associations and Nonprofits. With hundreds of successful projects to his credit, Bala’s business background includes positions at IBM Corporation, COX Enterprises, Global Healthcare Rehabilitation and CUNA Mutual Group. He also provided management consulting for many small to medium-sized businesses. Bala has wide exposure in board and advisory roles for several Nonprofits, He served as President of the Plymouth, Minnesota chapter of Rotary International. Other Nonprofit and member-based associations for which he volunteered or served in leadership positions were Rising Star OutReach, Toastmasters International, Business Network International (BNI), The Blake School, The Children’s Workshop Montessori, Ronald McDonald House Charities (Upper Midwest) and many others.

Dr. Matt Fretwell is a global leader, trainer, and author with over 20 years of experience empowering organizations, denominations, and individuals through gospel-centered transformation and innovative leadership. He currently serves as the Spiritual Director in Residency at World Relief and is an adjunct professor at several institutions, including Regent University, where he received the Faculty Award of Excellence in Scholarship in 2022. Dr. Fretwell specializes in organizational growth, strategic partnerships, church planting, leadership development, and fostering multicultural engagement. His work spans the non-profit, academic, and business sectors, where he has consistently driven sustainable change, increased impact, and advanced cross-cultural initiatives. As an advocate for integral mission, multiplication, and spiritual formation, Dr. Fretwell has trained leaders across the globe, developed curriculum, and cultivated growth strategies for organizations with thousands of staff and volunteers. He is an author of over 12 publications, including the three volumes of Multiplying Jesus, Church Planting By Making Disciple-Makers, and a 2024 Lausanne IV Congress white paper contributor. Dr. Fretwell’s passion lies in equipping others to lead with authenticity, innovation, and a gospel-centered focus, making an impact in their communities and beyond.

Joe serves as a Donor Relations Officer at The City Mission, a nonprofit organization providing holistic, gospel-centered services to people experiencing homelessness in Cleveland, Ohio. Since its founding in 1910, The City Mission has expanded from meeting basic needs like food, shelter, and clothing to offering comprehensive long-term programs that empower men, women, and children to break the cycle of poverty. In 2025, the organization opened Rothstein Village, Cleveland’s first transitional housing community for women and children.

A Cleveland native, Joe began his career as an Emergency Medical Technician after earning a degree in Public Health & Safety. He later completed a master’s degree in Exercise Physiology and went on to lead fitness and wellness operations at Ohio University and the University of Cincinnati. Before joining The City Mission staff full-time in 2024, he served as the Senior Director of Wellness & Community Engagement at the Mandel Jewish Community Center and was also a dedicated volunteer for the Mission.

Joe's passion is serving those in crisis and addressing their physical, mental, and spiritual needs to support lasting transformation. His daily prayer is to faithfully follow wherever God leads him to serve those in need with compassion and purpose.

Joel Penton is the Founder and CEO of LifeWise Academy, a program that provides Bible education to public school students during school hours. Since its launch in 2019, LifeWise has quickly grown to serve hundreds schools across the U.S. each week, with tens of thousands of students attending LifeWise to receive a Bible class as part of their public school day. 

Joel’s 15-year career as a ministry leader has been marked by the relentless pursuit of impacting students. He honed this skill playing defensive tackle at The Ohio State University with a relentless pursuit of impacting quarterbacks for a national championship football team. In his senior year at OSU, Joel received the Danny Wuerffel trophy, known as the “Humanitarian Heisman,” which is awarded to one college football player each year for outstanding community service. 

Upon graduating, Joel founded Relevant Speakers Network, a speakers’ bureau that has touched more than 3,000 public schools and 2 million students nationwide. As a public speaker, Joel has presented to more than 2,000 live audiences and over 1,000,000 people across the country. He is also the author of three books including DURING SCHOOL HOURS: Why and How LifeWise Academy is Reinstalling Religious Education into the Public School Day. 

Joel lives in Columbus, Ohio, with his wife, Bethany, and their five children, where they all enjoy telling stories at the dinner table, watching sci-fi movies, and playing full-contact monkey in the middle.

Jonathan Fanning is the author of 4 books:

    - Who are you BECOMING?

    - Creativity Unleashed

    - Conversations with the Monk

    - I Once was Lost

He has worked to develop servant leaders & innovators – including Fortune 500 executives, nonprofit leaders, educators and business owners – for over 2 decades.

If you are familiar with TED talks… Jonathan’s talk on Creative Leadership was voted the best talk at a TEDx conference.

He has also built several successful businesses, including a national children’s 
fitness franchise and Entrepreneur Adventure, which helps young people 
experience business start-up and ownership. 

He has inspired and challenged audiences with his message in 49 states and on 3 
continents. 

Jonathan lives in NY with his amazing wife and two angelic daughters.

James Barnett is the visionary behind DaySpring's remarkable journey to global leadership in Christian expressions. For 29 years, as president, he transformed a small partnership into a powerhouse, distributing over 200 million products worldwide. Beyond DaySpring, James authored "Blue Skies" and founded Mary & Martha. He resides in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, with his wife, Marilyn. They have three adult children, five grandchildren, and are active members of Fellowship Bible Church in Rogers, Arkansas.

Mr. Rodgers holds an M.Ed. in Independent School Leadership from Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College, where he was awarded the Peabody Honors Scholarship. He also holds an M.A. in Humanities from the University of Dallas.

Jake began his career in private and independent school education as a high school English teacher and basketball coach. Since then, he has served in a variety of roles in independent and private schools including dean, marketing specialist, assistant principal, and most recently, as the principal of a large preschool through 8th grade Catholic school, where he led major strategic planning and capital projects. He is a fellow of the University of Notre Dame’s Reform Leaders Summit, is a member of the 2021 cohort of Leadership Forsyth, and has been recognized for his work by the Knoxville News Sentinel as a Top 40 Under 40 honoree.

In his free time, Jake enjoys reading, fly-fishing, and running. He is married to his college sweetheart, Rachel. They are the proud parents of Catherine Clare (Cate) and John Joseph (JJ).