Gary L. Bukowski, MA, CFRE, is the associate vice president of development at Sarah A. Reed Children's Center in Erie, Pennsylvania. With over four decades of experience in institutional advancement, he has raised more than $100 million for various causes and is a founding member of the AFP Chapter of Northwestern Pennsylvania.
After 40 years of experience as a seasoned Wealth Advisor, providing tailored financial guidance to individuals, families, small business owners, and non-profits, Geof continues to offer pro-bono philanthropic consulting to non-profit organizations based in Central Virginia and nationwide. He draws on his expertise in comprehensive financial planning to address tax minimization, retirement optimization, estate, and charitable planning. Geof’s approach emphasizes understanding the personal values and legacy goals of donors, offering ongoing education to help them make confident philanthropic decisions while preparing for wealth transfer to future generations.
Jim is the President of Langley Innovations and a leading expert in philanthropy and higher education advancement. With over 30 years of experience, he has led transformative campaigns, authored five books, and advised over 130 institutions. Known for innovative strategies and donor-centric approaches, his work has raised billions and reshaped fundraising practices.
Jay leads Launch Legacy Consulting, which helps nonprofits secure major and planned gifts. With 30+ years spanning financial services and nonprofit fundraising, including roles at the University of Georgia, Operation Blessing, and Boys & Girls Clubs of America, he holds the Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® designation. His firm has secured over $75.6M in gift commitments for small nonprofits new to planned giving, including $5.6M very recently across four organizations.
Joe is President of Garecht Fundraising Associates and has over 25 years of experience in fundraising and nonprofit management. He has led a $20M+ organization as Executive Director, served as VP of Development for a major educational nonprofit, and directed development at a large social service agency. Joe has consulted with hundreds of organizations, authored several books, including How to Raise More Money for Any Non-Profit and The Non-Profit Fundraising Formula, and works with clients nationwide and internationally.
Jonathan Hannah is a Term Assistant Teaching Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Notre Dame, where he teaches an experiential learning course on Philanthropy & the Common Good.
Julie Chapman is the founder and chair of The ALX Dog Walk, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that organizes an annual dog walk to build community, have fun, and educate citizens across the District / Virginia / Maryland area about plastic-free and sustainable living.
Do you feel unseen, unheard, and underfunded? To get funding, you need to be fundable & findable. It’s your brand — not fundraising alone — that attracts the money. So stop chasing donations and build your brand first, funding second.
Laura has over 40 years of experience in fundraising and philanthropy. Her media and communications background informed her storytelling ability for hundreds of nonprofit clients, with fundraising skills sharpened during The Ohio State University's first billion-dollar campaign. In 2000, Laura founded Benefactor Group, serving nonprofits for 25 years by helping organizations fuel their cause with powerful fundraising, people, and systems. A frequent speaker and published thought leader, Laura's insights have appeared in Advancing Philanthropy, Nonprofit Quarterly, Forbes.com, The New York Times, and the Chronicle of Philanthropy. She authored The Endowment Handbook (Wiley, 2024) and has served with the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Giving Institute, and Giving USA Foundation, where she was board chair from 2020-2022.
(Co-Writer) Lisa Novick is a communications executive specializing in philanthropic initiatives in the nonprofit, private and public sectors. She serves as Strategic Advisor at Dog Tag Inc., a nonprofit that helps veterans, spouses, and caregivers transition from military to civilian careers. She is a board member of The ALX Dog Walk.
