Authors

Julie Chapman

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.
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Kevin L. Brown

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.
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Laura MacDonald, CFRE

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.
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Lisa Novick

(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.
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Michael Bittel

Michael is VP of Nonprofit Success at LifeLegacy. He brings decades of expertise from major gifts and planned giving to development leadership. He’s stewarded million dollar gifts while championing loyal $100 donations. With graduate degrees in business and education, a CFRE certification, and a track record of success, Michael is a trusted expert and passionate advocate for donor relationships. He helps nonprofits craft legacies that honor donor values and drive missions forward, delivering long-term results.
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Mike Esposito

Mike is a fundraising consultant, mentor, and coach dedicated to helping small to midsize nonprofits achieve sustainable growth. He takes the time to understand each organization’s unique needs, collaborating with them to develop custom solutions and innovative strategies that enhance fundraising effectiveness. Mike provides coaching, strategic planning, and campaign support to his clients. With his CFRE certification, he combines expertise and passion to empower nonprofits and help them thrive.
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Patrick O'Donnell

Patrick is PlannedGiving.Com’s Senior Editor of Content, Communications, and Storytelling. He is also the Executive Editor of GIVING magazine, where he helps bring you powerful, inspirational, and educational stories from the nonprofit sector. An author, editor, and marketing communications professional with deep roots in journalism, Patrick works closely with nonprofits to craft compelling, mission-driven narratives that inform, inspire, and drive action. Learn more at Patrickfodonnell.com.

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Russell James III, Ph.D., J.D., CFP®

Dr. James is a professor at Texas Tech University specializing in charitable financial planning. A former college president and planned giving director, he has published extensively on philanthropy. His research is widely recognized, earning him induction into the Charitable Gift Planners' Hall of Fame.
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Scott Thomas

Scott is the founder of Stewardship Matters, Inc., a wealth advisory firm in Maitland, Florida. With nearly four decades of experience since 1986, his guiding principle has been: "To become more, so I can be more for others in my life." Scott specializes in financial stewardship, charitable giving, and retirement income planning, helping clients discover hidden opportunities. He has led seminars for the Florida Institute of CPAs, Association of Fundraising Professionals, and Charitable Gift Planners. A former board member and past president of Charitable Gift Planners of Central Florida, Scott teaches through online courses, podcasts, and videos. He earned his Business Administration degree from the University of Central Florida.
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Viken Mikaelian

Viken is the CEO and founder of PlannedGiving.com and MajorGifts.com. He is also publisher of GIVING magazine (formerly Giving Tomorrow). Viken is available for speaking engagements on planned giving marketing, personal development and time management. Learn how Viken got into planned giving. Connect on LinkedIn.
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