RAISE Podcast

On this episode of the RAISE Podcast, Brent hosts Bill Kavan, Vice President of Engagement and Outreach at the Arizona State University Foundation.

Bill traces his journey from a ten-year-old in Westhampton Beach, New York, pulling a lawnmower behind his bike, to an Arizona State University student looking for community on a campus where his first class was larger than his entire high school. He shares how a landscaping business, a father who would only cover “Converse money” for sneakers, and an elderly client who became a close friend shaped his work ethic, generosity, and early interest in business and investing.

At ASU, Bill found his footing in the Greek system, becoming deeply involved in philanthropy, leadership, and eventually serving as fraternity man of the year. A year on the road as a chapter adviser, including a fraternity event at the White House, exposed him to alumni, networking, and the power of people giving to support others they may never meet.

From there, Bill moved into entry-level fundraising at the National MS Society, then into higher-ed advancement software and implementation work for campuses ranging from community colleges to Cornell and SMU. Today, at ASU, he leads teams focused on annual giving, donor relations and engagement, digital donor engagement, scholarship advancement, and leadership annual giving, all with an eye toward engagement at scale for a six-hundred-thousand-strong alumni community.

On this episode of the RAISE Podcast, Brent hosts Christine Pena, Chief Advancement Officer at Miss Porter’s School.

Christine shares how a childhood fascination with The Facts of Life led her from a small dinner table in West Falmouth on Cape Cod to a snowy visit at St. Paul’s School, where she instantly knew, “This is where I want to be.” As a heavily aided, first-generation student from a working-class, third-generation Cape Cod family and an African American girl crossing “the bridge to the rest of the world,” she reflects on feeling like a fish out of water, challenging assumptions about wealth and privilege, and learning never to judge a book by its cover.

From there, she traces her path to Wesleyan University, a brief but lucrative detour into management consulting in New York City, and the mental checklist that pushed her toward more meaningful work: respecting the people she worked for, doing work that mattered, and, as she jokes, not having to wear pantyhose every day. That audit led her into admissions at Dartmouth, graduate study at Harvard’s ed school focused on higher education governance and history, and eventually into major gifts work at The Madeira School and Wesleyan.

Today, at Miss Porter’s, Christine thinks deeply about the global nature of girls’ education, the cost of private education, and why institutions must joyfully, factually, and collaboratively tell the stories that prove the power of investing in human potential.

On this episode of the RAISE Podcast, Brent welcomes Patrick Hewett, Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Endicott College—and one of the first advancement professionals to give EverTrue feedback, way back in 2011.

Patrick traces his path from Portsmouth Abbey School to Saint Anselm College, from a short-lived stint in insurance to his first advancement job developing a young alumni program for his alma mater. He shares how his time at Middlesex School and Boston University shaped his approach to building donor relationships and how he's helping Endicott lean into cause-based fundraising, value creation, and a donor experience rooted in real impact.

Patrick and Brent reflect on the early days of EverTrue, the evolution of donor expectations, and why advancement offices must play a more active role in identifying institutional value and bridging it to today’s most urgent challenges—from workforce development to mental health. Patrick also introduces new thinking around accessing philanthropic capital through community foundations and impact investing.

Tune in for a deep conversation on data, purpose, product-market fit, and why it’s more important than ever to "tell everyone."

On this episode of the RAISE Podcast, Brent welcomes Peter Wilch, Senior Vice President for University Advancement at Loyola Marymount University.

Peter shares his journey from growing up as the youngest of nine in Mount Vernon, Iowa, to finding purpose in higher education fundraising. As a first-generation college graduate, Peter reflects on the transformative experience he had at Cornell College and how it ignited his commitment to pay it forward through philanthropy.

He walks us through his early career—from financial services to an unexpected introduction to development—and highlights the transferable skills that helped him thrive as a gift officer. Peter shares lessons from formative roles at Grinnell and the University of Iowa, and explains how those experiences shaped his leadership at Cornell, the University of San Francisco, and now LMU.

Peter also discusses how AI can empower fundraisers to focus on what matters most: building lasting relationships. He emphasizes the importance of mentorship, healthy competition, and the shared wins that define great advancement work—like the $25 million Levy Foundation challenge gift that galvanized the LMU team and set a new bar for impact.

Tune in to hear about Peter’s approach to growing teams, cultivating lifelong donor relationships, and leading with humility, curiosity, and purpose.

On this episode of the RAISE Podcast, Brent hosts Marie Schultz, Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations at the University of Texas at Arlington.

Marie reflects on her journey from a first-gen student in Riverside, California to leading a 70+ person advancement team in one of the country’s most dynamic public universities. She shares the moment a friend’s brother told her she was “UC material,” how a student job in the development office changed everything, and the 27-year run that followed at UC Riverside—from prospect research to launching a successful capital campaign as Associate Vice Chancellor.

Marie also talks about her leap to Texas and what it took to transform a team of 38 (with 20 open roles!) into a fully staffed, energized, and collaborative division ready to launch UTA’s first-ever comprehensive campaign. Along the way, she unpacks lessons on team culture, cultivating emerging leaders, and what it means to "trust the process" when you're rebuilding from scratch.

When asked what it means to be a great gift officer, Marie says it's about being genuine, following through, and sparking impact—not just for the institution, but for the donor, too.

Tune in!

On this episode of the RAISE Podcast, Brent hosts Richard P. Virgin, Vice President for University Advancement at the University of San Diego.

Richard dives into the intricacies of leading advancement at a Catholic institution, sharing insights on how mission and identity shape fundraising strategies and donor engagement. Drawing on his tenure at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and other leadership roles, Richard reflects on building high-performing teams and the unique challenges of advancement work in today’s world.

He also offers his perspective on the evolving expectations of donors, the importance of fostering a culture of collaboration within advancement, and the joys of working in San Diego—a city he proudly calls home.

Tune in to hear Richard’s thoughts on what it takes to be an authentic and forward-thinking leader in the advancement space!

On this episode of the RAISE Podcast, Brent hosts Richard P. Virgin, Vice President for University Advancement at the University of San Diego.

Richard dives into the intricacies of leading advancement at a Catholic institution, sharing insights on how mission and identity shape fundraising strategies and donor engagement. Richard reflects on building high-performing teams and the unique challenges of advancement work in today’s world.

He also offers his perspective on the evolving expectations of donors, the importance of fostering a culture of collaboration within advancement, and the joys of working in San Diego—a city he proudly calls home.

Tune in to hear Richard’s thoughts on what it takes to be an authentic and forward-thinking leader in the advancement space!

On this episode of the RAISE Podcast, Brent chats with Ashley Budd, Senior Marketing Director at Cornell University and co-author of Mailed It! Ashley shares her journey from student ambassador at RIT to leading digital marketing efforts in higher education, and offers insights on launching social media platforms and scaling strategies at Cornell.

They discuss the importance of authenticity, empathy, and trust in email marketing, along with strategies for effective alumni engagement and stewardship. Ashley also shares lessons from her email-marketing-focused book, Mailed It, and advice for marketers looking to improve their strategies.

On this episode of the RAISE Podcast, Brent hosts Thomas Chaves, Vice President for Advancement at Albright College. Thomas shares his journey in advancement, reflecting on his career in higher ed, Albright's approach to financial sustainability, and his passion for long-distance running.

On this episode of the RAISE Podcast, Brent hosts Michael Bor, co-founder and CEO of the Endowment Project. Michael shares how grassroots fundraising and community engagement are revolutionizing public education, emphasizing that even modest contributions can yield significant benefits for students and teachers alike.