Jack Salmon is the director of Policy Research at Philanthropy Roundtable. In Jack’s current role, he supports the Policy and Government Affairs team with research, commentary and analysis on issues facing the charitable sector and philanthropic freedom. His research and commentary have been featured in a variety of outlets, including The Hill, Business Insider, RealClearPolicy and National Review.

 Prior to joining the Roundtable, Jack served as program manager and researcher at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, where he oversaw policy relating to budgets, taxation, institutions and economic growth. Originally from the U.K., Jack graduated from King’s College London in 2015 with a Master of Arts in political economy.

Born in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Shannon White is a theologian, ministerial consultant, and ordained minister who currently resides in Nashville, Tennessee. Shannon currently holds a Master of Divinity from Vanderbilt University with a certification in Religion in the Arts and Contemporary Culture and certification from the Kelly Miller Smith Institute in Black Church Studies. As a homiletician, liturgist, organizational developer, and fundraiser, Shannon’s ministry is built on Proverbs 27:17: where Iron sharpens Iron—therefore, let’s make each other better and brighter for a blessed world. 

My interview is with Linda Hansen.  I call it Master the Pivot.  It's all about how the future can--and should-build on the past.

Linda Hansen, PhD., is the CEO and Co-founder of Fund Duel Inc. The innovation of Fund Duel, a gamified online fundraising platform derived from her PhD studies on the neurochemical and psychological motivational system of humans in both positive and negative directions. She also found that there was a lack of innovation in the online fundraising sector and developed Fund Duel to address this need and also to capitalize on the motivational reward system in humans to get involved in raising money and awareness for good causes. The platform motivates engagement through fun competition, winning prizes, challenges, social media, sharing selfies and videos, etc...

Dr. Hansen has owned and operated a Colorado-based guest ranch and corporate event facility, Piney River Ranch, for 8 years with 20-25 employees and several leasing departments, which was the recipient of “business of the year in Vail Valley.”  She has founded two non-profit organizations, Family Time Foundation and Pure Light Foundation and is on the executive board of the Southern California Committee for the Parliament of the World’s Religions. Dr. Hansen has a PhD from Iliff School of Theology and The University of Denver in anthropological studies that included the bio-neurological composition of humans. She has been heavily engaged in community building and networking in Denver, CO, Chicago, IL, and more recently in Los Angeles, CA.

My interview in this episode is with Dion McInnis.

Dion McInnis has been involved in fundraising activities of various types for more than four decades, including 27 years in the university advancement field (development, alumni/community relations, publications, media relations) with four universities, as well as a decade with other nonprofit organizations. He has long held that fundraising is ministerial. His most recent book is Fundraiser’s Prayer Book: Insights and Inspiration for Faith-driven Fundraisers. Each fundraising story from his career is accompanied by a scriptural reference and an original prayer.

He is also a lifelong photographer and writer; he has conducted classes and workshops in both fields for 40 years.  His public speaking work is inspired by his desire to help people see differently so that they can change perspectives and grow authentically. He is the author of several books, all of which ultimately involve listening to life and gaining wisdom along the way; he is most proud of Daddin’:  The Verb of Being a Dad. Many of his programs are based on a process he created that is explained in his book, LIFElines: Empowering All Aspects of Your Life.

He is the father of three sons, and grandpa to six.  He and his wife live in Huntsville, Texas.

My interview in this episode is with Scott Hutchings. Scott is a father of 4, partner to 1, and a business owner working to make a difference in the world, once cent at a time. Global Coin Solutions is focused on helping charities with their fundraising initiatives by enabling them to be able to collect left over foreign currency: Any Currency, Any Amount.

Further, it Scott’s goal to employ people; the more charities they help, the more funds are raised, and the more people it takes to do the work and they do this while paying a “living wage” to their staff, ensuring they don’t need the services of the charities they are supporting.

Kevin is a 25+ year veteran of non profit organizations with diverse missions and constituencies, including international education, foreign policy, aging, housing, alternative energy and more. His background includes fundraising, operations, finance, strategy, advocacy campaigns, and membership development. He has worked in the US and Europe and in addition to his professional pursuits is active as an artist and musician exhibiting and performing in the Mid-Atlantic region.

My interview in this episode is with Russell James. Russell 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.

My interview in this episode is with Maryanne Dersch. Maryanne is the CEO and Chief Excitement Officer of Courageous Communication, LLC.

Maryanne Dersch specializes in helping nonprofit organizations easily increase their influence and connect with new donors so they can raise more money without feeling rejected, ineffective or pushy.  She has spent almost thirty years working in the nonprofit world helping organizations communicate more effectively internally and externally.

From her years in the biz, Maryanne understands that you can’t change how your organization communicates without changing the culture that supports the communication. And it takes good leaders to mold that culture. Courageous Communication helps you understand your gifts and value, and help others around you do the same. From board to staff to volunteers to clients, you will have a culture that embodies authentic communication. You will operate with confidence about what will happen instead of fear of what might happen.