Nonprofit Influencers to Follow
Stay up to date with the latest trends by adding these nonprofit influencers to your feed.
Before you begin…
What is a nonprofit influencer?
An influencer is a prominent figure with a well-known online presence and expertise in a specific industry. Influencers specialize in a certain niche to establish widespread credibility and assure others that their endorsements are authentic. They can be anyone from a blogger to a social media celebrity to an online entrepreneur.
By demonstrating a clear understanding of the nonprofit industry, nonprofit influencers have acquired a dedicated online following that trusts their endorsements and believes that their advice is credible. Their audience members are typically interested in the products they buy, the causes they support, and the advice they offer.
Are you a nonprofit influencer?
We’d love to chat about potential collaborations – let’s get in touch!
With that in mind…
Here’s a growing list of nonprofit influencers whose advice can help transform your nonprofit career!
Nonprofit Influencers to Follow
Adam Weinger
Adam Weinger is the founder and president of Double the Donation, the industry’s leading matching gift tool. He got his start in the nonprofit world when he worked at a major bank. During his time there, he donated to his alma mater, the local Big Brothers Big Sisters organization, and LLS. By the time he realized his company would match the donations he had made, the deadline had passed, and it was too late to get his gift matched, decreasing his impact. That missed opportunity sparked his idea to create a comprehensive database filled with information on companies’ corporate giving programs, known today as Double the Donation.
His goal was to create the ultimate resource of matching gift data to help nonprofits proactively grow their revenue and invest more into their missions. Put simply, he achieved that goal and then some! Today, Double the Donation houses nearly 25,000 company records, representing almost 27 million employees. Each company’s record includes information like whether the company has a program, the minimum amount they’ll match, the maximum amount they’ll match, nonprofit eligibility requirements, and available forms.
Today, you can keep up with Adam by exploring his company’s blog, which is regularly updated with plenty of helpful resources about corporate giving and fundraising best practices. You can also attend a free daily demo to see Double the Donation’s software in action!
Alice Ferris
Alice has more than 30 years of professional fundraising experience and holds an impressive background from her time in the sector. As a founding partner of GoalBusters Consulting, she specializes in strategic and development planning, campaign and development program assessments, board and organizational training, executive leadership coaching, individual giving, and grant proposal evaluation.
In 2020, she became the 21st worldwide recipient of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Founders’ Medallion, which is an incredible honor that commemorates her outstanding service to AFP Global, local chapters, and the entire nonprofit sector. Not to mention, she’s also a three-time honoree as AFP-Northern Arizona Fundraising Professional of the Year, has served on multiple nonprofit boards, has received the Advanced Certified Fundraising Executive (ACFRE) credential, and is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE).
If you recognize her, you may have also spotted her on PBS during pledge drives. To keep up with Alice, you can follow her on social media or check out her agency’s website!
Aliguma Young
Aliguma is a senior executive with more than 15 years of experience in nonprofit management and engagement. In her career, she’s achieved several notable accomplishments. Just to name a few, she has coached nonprofit executives at Teach for America, gained more than 10 years of progressive fundraising experience working in a university environment, and helped a nonprofit successfully complete a $75 million capital campaign. Her extensive knowledge has resulted in her speaking at conferences around the country.
Out of all the notable accomplishments she’s achieved throughout her career, her fundraising work for the National Center for Civil and Human Rights is one of the most incredible! She led a multimillion-dollar capital campaign for the museum’s construction, allowing her to help commemorate the achievements of the civil rights movement and the human rights movement.
Today, she is the CEO of The Super Fundraiser, a management consulting firm that provides professional development resources to accelerate the growth of organizations. Keep up with Aliguma by checking out her firm’s website, joining her mailing list, or following her on social media.
Allison Fine
Allison Fine is a nonprofit influencer, author, and innovator. To date, she has written four books for the social good sector, the most recent of which is co-authored by Beth Kanter and entitled The Smart Nonprofit: Staying Human-Centered in an Automated World.
Allison has started and managed organizations with revenues of millions of dollars, developed strategies for some of the most prominent and influential philanthropic organizations in the world, and helped create more inclusive and less risk-averse nonprofit workplaces.
She is the founder and CEO of Innovation Network, Network of Elected Women, and the E-volve Foundation. She’s also a worldwide leader in the use of artificial intelligence for social good and online activism, making her a well-known nonprofit influencer. Her expertise has led to her keynoting conferences around the globe.
You can keep up with her latest thought leadership by following Allison on Twitter or checking out her website.
Amy DeVita
With more than 20 years of publishing experience, Amy DeVita is a knowledgeable nonprofit influencer who has had a notable impact on the sector by providing helpful educational nonprofit resources. She is the CEO of Top Nonprofits, which has quickly become one of the most popular digital resources for nonprofits. It’s a free resource that frequently publishes blog posts with advice and insights that you can use to grow your nonprofit’s impact.
Her digital impact doesn’t stop there! Amy also founded the Virtual Summit for Nonprofit Changemakers, an annual conference that features some of the most important voices in the nonprofit sector. The ultimate goal is to empower nonprofit professionals to develop their skills and better deliver their missions. To keep up with Amy, subscribe to the Top Nonprofits blog or visit the Nonprofit Changemakers website.
Amy Eisenstein
For more than 20 years, Amy served as a development professional and fundraising consultant. Today, she’s an accomplished author who’s published multiple books for the mission-driven sector, and she’s the CEO and co-founder of Capital Campaign Pro. Alongside the company’s co-founder Andrea Kihlstedt, she founded Capital Campaign Pro as a way to revolutionize the capital campaign world. Together, their goal was to provide nonprofit professionals with everything they need to create high-performing campaigns without hiring an expensive consultant.
Outside of her day-to-day work at Capital Campaign Pro, she’s now an in-demand keynote speaker as well as a passionate board retreat trainer and facilitator. She’s also devoted her free time to strengthening her knowledge of the sector. In 2004, she became a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) and received the highest certification in the field (ACFRE) back in 2013. She also became an AFP-certified Master Trainer in 2009.
Hear more from this nonprofit influencer by following Amy on Twitter, visiting Capital Campaign Pro’s website, subscribing to Amy on YouTube, or checking out her personal website.
Amy Sample Ward
Amy is a nonprofit influencer, trainer, author, and community mobilizer. They have worked with groups around the globe to build scalable strategies and leverage social and mobile technology to amplify worthwhile causes. Amy is driven to create meaningful and inclusive educational opportunities for nonprofits. That’s why, today, they are the CEO of NTEN, an organization that aspires to help its community of nonprofit professionals learn to use technology strategically and equitably.
Based on Amy’s experience helping direct service, policy, philanthropy, and capacity-building organizations, they have had the privilege to present at conferences, speak on podcasts, and contribute to various publications. They have also co-authored three different books that focus on the nonprofit sector. To further guide the causes they care about, they serve on many boards and committees, including the Portland Elections Commission, The Cottonwood School of Civics and Science, and Invest in Open Infrastructure. Not to mention, they also advise numerous nonprofit, technology, and digital inclusion initiatives.
To keep up with this nonprofit influencer, check out Amy’s personal website or follow them on Twitter.
Andrea Kihlstedt
Andrea is a well-known nonprofit expert, primarily recognized for her work in the capital campaign field. In her 30+ years serving as a capital campaign coach, she helped organizations of all types raise hundreds of millions of dollars for their causes.
She has a long list of accomplishments, including co-founding Capital Campaign Masters, Capital Campaign Pro, and Asking Matters. In her time as a faculty member at The Fundraising School in Indiana, she co-developed the school’s capital campaign course, and she has tackled a considerable amount of training and speaking engagements for local and national organizations ever since. She’s also written several books focused on the fundraising space, so there’s no shortage of her insightful work to explore.
She regularly blogs on her personal website, making it easy to keep up with this nonprofit influencer’s latest ideas and advice. You can also listen to the All About Capital Campaigns podcast, which she cohosts with Amy Eisenstein.
Andrew Mosawi
Andrew is a founding member and the current president of iATS Payments, an integrated payment solution for nonprofit organizations worldwide. In the early stages of the company’s development, Andrew served as the original growth leader and oversaw the go-to-market strategy and execution. His hard work — alongside his co-founders’ work — paid off. As of June 2021, iATS is now the largest integrated payment provider in the sector and the preferred partner for respected technology firms serving nonprofits, like Microsoft and Salesforce.
Outside of his work at iATS, Andrew has an affinity for nonprofit work and is always looking for new ways to give back in his personal life. That’s why he is an active volunteer and donor for many organizations. He’s also a trustee of The Mosawi Foundation, which is a catalyst for galvanizing communities, supporting healthcare initiatives, and sponsoring talent.
To keep up with this nonprofit influencer, follow him on LinkedIn, where he regularly posts.
Anne Stefanyk
As the founder and CEO of Kanopi Studios, Anne spends her time providing digital strategy guidance to individuals and organizations in the nonprofit, higher education, government, and corporate sectors. She works at the intersection of business development, marketing, and technology and works with the Kanopi team to execute captivating website solutions that amplify her clients’ brands.
Outside of running her web agency, she has been the lead organizer for the Bay Area Drupal Camp (BADCamp) since 2011. As part of this role, she works alongside other tech-savvy individuals to host a free annual tech conference in the San Francisco Bay area, complete with area-specific summits, free training, and code sprints. What’s more, she’s previously created three Drupal support programs in New York, San Francisco, and Canada.
Hear more from this nonprofit influencer by checking out Kanopi’s blog where she occasionally posts or by following Anne on Twitter.
Barbara O’Reilly
Over the past 30 years, Barbara O’Reilly has led record-setting reunion campaigns, conducted major capital campaigns, and maintained positive relationships with major individual and corporate donors. She also co-founded a nonprofit and has spent several years working in large, complex organizations (like Harvard and American Red Cross).
Today, her independently-owned consulting firm, Windmill Hill Consulting, helps nonprofits elevate their missions and build profitable fundraising strategies. She helps create annual development strategies, communicate with donors, and train board members. She also has several other accomplishments, such as sitting on the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) board in Washington, D.C. That’s why she’s one of the top nonprofit influencers we recommend you follow!
Subscribe to Windmill Hill Consulting’s newsletter, or follow her on social media to stay in the loop with her advice.
Becky Endicott
Becky got her start at the Science Museum Oklahoma as a public relations coordinator. She then returned to her alma mater to build Oklahoma State University Foundation’s marketing department, where she was able to get her first taste of philanthropic storytelling via print and digital deliverables. Her work ultimately led to the launch of Oklahoma’s largest philanthropic campaign effort — Branding Success — a $1 billion initiative. She found her way back to Oklahoma City, where she worked for INTEGRIS Foundation for nearly a decade and led teams in annual giving, events, stewardship, prospect research, and more.
Today, she’s become a nonprofit influencer. She shares her love for philanthropic storytelling with the next generation of nonprofit leaders through her podcast, We Are For Good, alongside her co-host, Jonathan McCoy. You can subscribe to their podcast, follow @weareforgood on most social platforms, or join the We Are For Good Community.
Beth Kanter
Beth is a well-established nonprofit influencer, thought leader, and author. She’s written several groundbreaking books that offer practical advice to help nonprofit professionals create social impact, operate in a connected world, achieve workplace resilience, and learn about artificial intelligence. She’s also written multiple research papers, including The Emerging Nonprofit Leader’s Playbook and #AI4Giving: Unlocking Generosity with Artificial Intelligence.
She created her blog “Beth’s Blog” in 2003, making it one of the first nonprofit blogs out there. It’s still going strong today! Beth regularly publishes on her blog, covering modern topics based on what’s happening in the sector. When exploring her blog, you’ll read about subjects like digital transformation, workplace resilience, training, virtual and face-to-face facilitation techniques, and self-care for nonprofit professionals.
Beth has also been named one of the most influential women in technology by Fast Company and one of BusinessWeek’s “Voices of Innovation for Social Media.” With more than three decades of experience, she’s an in-demand keynote speaker and workshop leader who’s well-versed in participatory facilitation techniques.
Keep up with Beth by visiting her blog or following her on Twitter!
Cherian Koshy
Cherian is a well-known keynote speaker, author, philanthropist, fundraiser, board member, nonprofit influencer, and all-around nonprofit problem-solver. He’s a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP), and AFP Master Trainer—all of which take extensive time to achieve.
With more than 25 years of fundraising experience under his belt, Cherian is one of the most sought-after trainers and speakers in the nonprofit world. As the Chief Development Officer for Endowment Partners, he currently coaches nonprofits, helping them to scale their revenue growth and strengthen their teams. In his time leading various nonprofits in their fundraising endeavors, he’s personally raised more than $100 million.
You may have run across his thought leadership in his textbook, Advancing Philanthropy, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, or the Institute of Fundraising. Or, you may recognize him from one of the many keynote presentations, blogs, webinars, workshops, and podcasts he’s contributed to. To keep up with his current work, follow Cherian on Twitter or check out his personal website where you can learn more about him.
Chris Hammond
While working as a congressional staffer and a development director for an international nonprofit organization, Chris noticed the need for a company that could simplify the giving process between nonprofits and corporations. To bring this idea to fruition, he founded Corporate Giving Connection, which offers strategic consulting and execution services focused on marketing, fundraising, and corporate social responsibility.
Throughout his career, he’s gained a range of board, chapter, and volunteer management experience through his work at some successful organizations. He has had quite a few profound achievements, such as increasing Best Buddies’ revenue by record-breaking margins and creating multiple record-breaking Run/Walks for the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC). He also created the inaugural Taste of Northern Virginia fundraising event for the NOCC.
With a deep-driven passion for enacting change and creating sustainable revenue streams for nonprofits, Chris has now amassed 13 years of event management experience and 10 years of nonprofit management experience. To keep up with Chris, check out his company’s website, or connect with him on LinkedIn.
Dana Snyder
As the founder and CEO of Positive Equation, Dana equips nonprofit teams with the digital marketing tools and knowledge needed to attract new donors and inspire social change. She’s committed to helping motivated nonprofit marketers cultivate a passionate audience of supporters through her digital consulting.
If you regularly attend events or listen to nonprofit podcasts, you may have heard her speak about innovative ways for nonprofits to transform their online marketing and fundraising experiences. She offers workshops and keynotes, where nonprofit professionals can develop impactful digital strategies, and has been a guest for the We are for Good podcast, the PeerTOPeer Professional Forum, and more.
Dana also hosts her podcast, Missions to Movements. Each Wednesday, you can join her as she interviews guests who share digital marketing case studies from organizations that are creating a positive impact in their fields. You can also check out her short-form episodes to gain actionable social media tips that you can start implementing immediately.
To learn about digital marketing from this nonprofit influencer, check out the Missions to Movements podcast, check out the Positive Equation website, or follow her on Instagram!
Dennis Fischman
Passionate about social change, Dennis Fischman left a senior management position years ago to help nonprofits enhance their storytelling capabilities in person, in writing, and through social media. Today, he owns Communicate! Consulting, a firm that’s devoted to transforming nonprofits’ communication skills so they can effectively advance their missions.
He also maintains an up-to-date blog that consistently posts about fundraising and nonprofit communication best practices based on his real-world experiences. Thanks to his commitment to sharing his advice, he’s quickly made a name for himself in the nonprofit space and is one of our recommended nonprofit influencers!
To keep up with Dennis Fischman and get his latest advice, follow him on Twitter or visit the Communicate! website and blog. While you’re there, check out his communication services if you want to receive targeted advice to drive deeper relationships with your donors.
Denny Meyer
Denny is a lifelong fundraiser and is driven by the desire to help nonprofits overcome obstacles and raise the funds their missions need. He founded his consulting agency, Meyer Partners, in 1989 to provide strategic consulting and related services in marketing and fundraising to nonprofits. Today, Meyer Partners is a trusted, market-savvy, and digitally-minded agency that helps nonprofits transform their fundraising communications.
Prior to creating Meyer Partners, he served as the National Director of Not-for-Profit Marketing at a leading database marketing company, where he received their Lifetime Achievement Award. He’s held other impressive roles that further developed his nonprofit management skills, including being a board member for local AFP chapters. Today, he still serves as one of the founding board members of The Nonprofit Alliance, which is the authoritative voice of nonprofits to promote, protect, and strengthen the philanthropic sector.
To learn more about this nonprofit influencer and charter CFRE’s work, check out his agency’s website!
Desiree Adaway
Desiree is the founder and principal of The Adaway Group. She’s one of the nation’s leading DEI consultant-facilitators with more than 25 years of experience leading multicultural teams in 40 countries.
To help her clients receive unmatched guidance, she brings her insight and expertise from her time serving in senior-level roles within the nonprofit and grant management sectors. Her experience doesn’t stop there, though. She’s also worked with information technology, grant management, environmental, social justice, and faith-based organizations.
Her goal is to empower conscious leaders with the skills necessary to cultivate rich relationships and lead important conversations across race, class, and gender through her coaching and training. That way, they can ultimately transform their organizations’ cultures for the better and foster a more inclusive and equitable workplace. To keep up with Desiree, check out her company’s website, or follow her on social media.
Ellen Bristol
In 1995, Ellen Bristol made a career change after a 20-year career selling mainframe computers for Fortune 500 companies. She launched Bristol Strategy and soon fell in love with the mission-driven sector. At that point, she determined her mission was to repurpose the disciplines and skills she learned from corporate sales to benefit the nonprofit sector.
Within the past 30 years, her firm has built robust benchmarks, guidelines, reporting methods, and other aids to help nonprofits strengthen the strategic foundation of their fundraising capabilities. During that time, she’s also published three books for nonprofits: Fundraising the SMART Way: Predictable, Consistent Income Growth for Your Charity, The Leaky Bucket: What’s Wrong with Your Fundraising and How You Can Fix It!, and Success Planning for Nonprofits: Evidence-Based Strategic Planning. It’s easy to see why she’s become a well-known nonprofit influencer!
Keep up to date with Ellen’s observations and thoughts about fund development by visiting the Bristol Strategy Group blog or following her on social media!
Ephraim Gopin
For nearly two decades, Ephraim has worked with nonprofit professionals to tell their mission’s story, strengthen their support base, increase fundraising, and establish brand recognition. During his time in the nonprofit sector, he’s been a CEO, fundraiser, grant writer, communications director, and alumni director. This has enabled him to learn each role’s complexity and how they work together, which he now applies to his work as a nonprofit consultant.
Based on his experience, he founded 1832 communications, a firm that helps nonprofits ensure their marketing and fundraising work in harmony. His goal is to help nonprofits strengthen their websites, upgrade their email marketing, enhance their digital presence, and ultimately advance their communications efforts.
Subscribe to 1832 Communications’ newsletter, check out Ephraim’s podcast, or follow Ephraim on social media for the latest on the nonprofit sector. You’ll even get a glimpse into his personal life!
Ericka Hines
As the principal of Every Level Leadership, Ericka has committed the past 12 years to helping organizations build equity culture through targeted coaching. Formerly known as Social Change Diva, Every Level Leadership is a minority, woman-owned leadership development firm designed to help socially-responsible organizations develop strong leadership. The firm works closely with organizations to help embed the principles of DEI and anti-racism within the organization’s culture. To date, Ericka has trained more than 3,500 individuals, helping them develop skills that will empower them to be more equitable leaders.
She’s been part of the nonprofit sector for more than 15 years. In that time, she has designed more than 20 annual education conferences and designed interactive training for groups of all sizes, from 8 people to 1,000 people. She’s also a contributing author to Awake to Woke to Work: Building a Race Equity Culture, a national publication by Equity in the Center. To keep up with this nonprofit influencer’s recent work, check out her firm’s website or follow her on Twitter.
Farra Trompeter
Farra is a co-director and member-owner of Big Duck. The worker-owned cooperative helps nonprofits leverage effective communications to advance their missions through strong branding, campaigns, and teams. In her current position, she directs Big Duck’s marketing and business development efforts. Since 2007, she’s led dozens of nonprofits through brand overhauls, fundraising campaigns, and more. She has more than 25 years of experience helping organizations develop strategic communications, brand strategies and assets, campaigns, and strong teams.
When she’s not helping nonprofits strengthen their branding strategies, you can find her teaching a class about strategic communications for nonprofit and public service organizations at New York University Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. She is also a former board member for NTEN and the NYC Anti-Violence Project.
Gail Perry
As the founder of Gaily Perry Group and a CFRE, Gail is a passionate fundraising consultant, major gift coach, and capital campaign consultant. Through her work, she’s empowered well-known, high-impact organizations like the U.S. Olympic Committee and Boy Scouts of America to raise hundreds of millions of dollars to fuel their missions.
She has an extensive background and has gained wide-scale recognition in the fundraising world for her Fired-Up Fundraising approach and her transformational work with mission-driven boards. She shares her advice for engaging board members in fundraising and achieving unparalleled results for your mission in her insightful book “Fired-Up Fundraising: Turn Board Passion Into Action.” As a charismatic speaker, Gail also often keynotes fundraising conferences and leads nonprofit leadership workshops that drive organizations to make a greater impact on their missions.
Gail’s presence on LinkedIn and Twitter makes her an influential voice in the sector and one of our must-follow nonprofit influencers. In fact, she previously was named as one of LinkedIn’s Top 15 Voices of Philanthropy for sharing her insightful advice with her nonprofit peers. To learn more about her work, follow Gail on LinkedIn, check out her firm’s website, or follow her on Twitter.
Greg Warner
Greg is the founder and CEO of MarketSmart, an innovative “philanthrotech” email marketing automation software and service firm. His goal was to enable fundraisers to zero in on the donors who are most likely to support organizations with major and legacy gifts. Today, MarketSmart’s system takes a unique approach compared to traditional big data and wealth screening services. It focuses on the donor, inspiring them to engage and explain why they care about the nonprofit’s mission.
In 2012, Greg coined the term “Engagement Fundraising” to refer to his breakthrough fundraising formula that was helping nonprofits achieve astounding results. A few years later, he wrote his book “Engagement Fundraising” to teach nonprofit professionals how to help wealthy and legacy-minded individuals find meaning in their lives through charitable giving.
Beyond MarketSmart, Greg also created the Fundraising Report Card which delivers free performance analytics and reporting for nonprofits. DAFwidget is another one of his inventions, which is a free widget makes it easier for nonprofits to help donors give from their donor-advised funds.
To learn more about this nonprofit influencer’s journey and current work, check out one of his websites or follow him on Twitter.
Jay Frost
As a consultant to nonprofits and advisor to companies serving the third sector, Jay’s constantly pursuing his mission to fuel positive change in the world. He founded Frost Fundraising in 1990 to achieve that mission. For more than three decades, he’s served as a grantmaker, fundraising, consultant, and social entrepreneur in hopes of bringing together people, resources, and ideas to improve society.
In his time in the nonprofit sector, he’s worked with hundreds of organizations at all stages of development, helping them pursue billions of dollars in fundraising opportunities. He’s also an active speaker, trainer, host, and facilitator who’s delivered presentations intended to inspire changemakers to incite transformational changes for themselves and their causes.
For all of his influential work, he previously was recognized as one of America’s Top 10 Fundraising Experts by Philanthropy Media, one of the Top Eight Fundraising Influencers by Elevation Media, one of the Top Thirteen Excellent Fundraising Consultants by Double the Donation, and one of the Top 100 Charity Influencers by Onalytica.
To hear more from Jay, check out the Masterminds Series by DonorSearch, where he hosts a lineup of leading voices in philanthropy and fundraising. You can also follow this nonprofit influencer on Twitter!
Kivi Leroux Miller
Kivi is the founder and CEO of Nonprofit Marketing Guide, a coaching and training company. Alongside her sister, she designed her company to develop nonprofit professionals’ marketing and communications strategies while also prioritizing personal wellness and growth through the work.
At Nonprofit Marketing Guide, Kivi serves as the lead trainer and provides weekly webinars and on-demand e-courses that focus on nonprofit marketing and communications topics for small to mid-sized organizations. Not to mention, she’s an award-winning author who’s written three books about nonprofit communications and content marketing.
Outside of her day-to-day marketing work, she also co-leads a Girl Scout troop and serves as the board president for the Lexington Farmers Market in North Carolina. She also co-founded Grow and Go Girls, a bakery where all net profits go into a travel fund for the girls who participate so that they can see the world.
To learn more about Kivi, check out her company’s website or follow her on Twitter where she regularly tweets!
Jazzmine Nolan
Jazzmine Nolan is a nonprofit influencer, consultant, collegiate professor, and self-made entrepreneur with an impressive background. From an early age, she was driven to carve her own path toward building a better world. Within the nonprofit industry alone, she’s served on boards, committees, and advisory councils for a variety of nonprofits, where she’s offered her expertise in strategic planning, program development, and system creation. She’s a sought-after speaker, panelist, and workshop instructor for topics related to business, government, urban development, economic development, and youth development.
Throughout her 20s, she spent her time mentoring 1,700 St. Louis youth. Driven by her own challenging childhood experiences of homelessness and the loss of her father, her aspiration was to help those she mentored lead successful lives. In 2016, she shifted from mentoring youth to financially supporting them through scholarships, resulting in the formation of the Jazzmine Marie Nolan Foundation. The self-titled foundation provides mentorship, entrepreneurship training, pageantry scholarships, step team coaching, and housing to young women.
To leverage her experience further, she created a consulting firm called Marie Management which offers tailored coaching for the structure, development, operations, and execution of both for-profits and nonprofits. These are just a few of her many accomplishments! To read her full story, check out Jazzmine’s personal website, and keep up with her most recent posts on social media.
Jen Shang
Jen is the world’s first Ph.D. in Philanthropy and the only philanthropic psychologist. To leverage her unique skills in ways that meaningfully advance the sector, she founded and co-directs the Institute for Sustainable Fundraising. Her organization empowers nonprofits to use science to create more memorable giving experiences that enrich donors’ lives. That way, fundraisers can reimagine their approach to donation solicitation from being solely transactional.
Her research has been featured in many well-known publications, including the New York Times, the BBC, the Chronicle of Philanthropy, and the Nonprofit Times. Her research has been funded by many prominent organizations, including the Aspen Institute, the Hewlett Foundation, and the Association of Fundraising Professionals. She’s also been published in several academic journals, sharing her work with the philanthropic world.
To keep up with this nonprofit influencer and learn about her research, explore her organization’s website, or follow her Twitter.
Jonathan McCoy
Like many other professionals in the sector, Jonathan McCoy is a nonprofit influencer who initially fell into nonprofit work a bit by accident. It started when he and his wife raised support to intern for an international ministry in Thailand. After returning from overseas, he started serving a growing client base of nonprofits to which he provides consulting services on branding, marketing, and fundraising.
He’s always had a passion for branding, in particular, and has brought that passion into the nonprofit world. Over the years, he’s cultivated an affinity for the mission-driven sector through his work. One of his most notable positions was when he served as the Director of Annual Giving for INTEGRIS Foundation for nearly a decade. Today, he’s fulfilled his dream of developing a full-fledged company to empower and equip today’s nonprofit leaders: We Are For Good.
As part of this initiative, he and Becky launched the We Are For Good podcast in 2020. You can join the community or learn more by visiting the We Are For Good website or following @weareforgood on most social platforms.
Julia Campbell
For nearly a decade, Julia Campbell has run a digital marketing agency targeted exclusively to mission-driven organizations. She’s the author of Storytelling in the Digital Age: A Guide for Nonprofits which gives impactful advice that nonprofits can use to tell their mission’s stories and drive deeper supporter connections.
With a passion for digital storytelling, she provides marketing consulting services to nonprofits across the globe. Her happy clients span everywhere from Moscow to San Francisco. Through her consulting business, she’s provided workshops and training to notable groups like the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Meals on Wheels America, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and Facebook.
You can keep up with Julia’s thoughts and ideas on all things related to nonprofit storytelling by visiting the #501Social Blog or following her on Twitter. She also has an insightful podcast, Nonprofit Nation, where she sits down with industry experts and practitioners to get advice on building vibrant, passionate communities around worthwhile causes.
Katie Appold
Katie is a nonprofit executive with experience in marketing, branding, and organizational leadership. Her career includes a range of leadership roles for human service, foundation, and publishing-related nonprofits.
Today, she serves as the executive director at Do More Good, the parent organization of Nonprofit Hub and Cause Camp. Do More Good is a charitable organization itself, and its leaders develop content, industry events, and other experiences that empower today’s nonprofit leaders. Nonprofit Hub and Cause Camp collectively serve more than 50,000 nonprofits throughout North America.
Katie also serves as the board president of Gracious Grounds, a housing organization that serves individuals with disabilities. Not to mention, she’s an active member of the Grand Rapids Young Nonprofit Professionals, the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce, Cause Network, and the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
To keep up with this nonprofit influencer, you can see her work on Nonprofit Hub or check out her personal website.
Kishshana Palmer
Kishshana is an international speaker, trainer, and coach with more than 20 years in fundraising, marketing, and talent management. As the CEO of Kishshana & Co., she devotes her time to advising social enterprise, nonprofit, and education management leaders on organizational design, strategic visioning, funding, talent management, and leadership development. As a keen strategist, Kishshana has served as a fundraising consultant for dozens of organizations, helping to raise more than $100 million. She created her company to be reflective of her diverse experiences. Her primary goal was to make innovative strategy, high-impact management, and philanthropy accessible to everyone.
Kishshana is also the founder of The Rooted Collaborative, which is a female-focused and -led community for black women leaders, entrepreneurs, advocates, and artists within the social sector. Not to mention, she’s also the host of her own podcast, an adjunct professor at Baruch College, a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE), a BoardSource Certified Governance Trainer (CGT), a Gallup Certified Strengths Coach, and an AFP Master Trainer.
As a direct impact of her extensive experience and innovative perspective, Kishshana is also a sought-after speaker. She’s served as a speaker, panelist, and conference keynote with several well-known organizations. Some of which include OneCause, Bloomerang, Boys and Girls Club of America, and Meals on Wheels.
To learn more about this nonprofit influencer, check out her company’s website, subscribe to her podcast “Let’s Take This Offline,” or follow her on Instagram.
Marc Pitman
Marc, the creator of Fundraising Coach and The Concord Leadership Group, is one of the world’s leading nonprofit fundraising consultants. He’s been recognized by The Atlantic as having one of the “5 Philanthropic Blogs Fundraisers Need to Read,” and in 2011, he was chosen as one of Maine’s first-ever “Forty Under 40.” He’s also a renowned author in the nonprofit space and has written several publications, the latest of which is The Surprising Gift of Doubt: Use Uncertainty to Become the Exceptional Leader You Are Meant to Be.
Because of his wide-ranging expertise, Marc has presented to over 25,000 nonprofit professionals at events like the World Fundraising Summit and the AFP International Conference. Over the last two years, Leadership Coaches certified by Marc have trained more than 14,290 business and nonprofit leaders. Marc has been featured in books and articles as well as sought out as a guest on TV, radio, and print. You may have seen him in The Chronicle of Philanthropy, SUCCESS magazine, Real Simple, or on NBC and Fox News.
With his deep-rooted passion for nonprofit leadership and fundraising, it’s easy to see why Marc is a nonprofit influencer! To keep up with his latest advice and publications, check out his Fundraising Coach blog or subscribe to his free email newsletter.
Mickey Desai
Mickey is a nonprofit influencer who brings a unique combination of skills from corporate and nonprofit sectors. As an entrepreneur, he founded The Nonprofit Snapshot to provide nonprofits with an affordable, high-quality, and quickly-deliverable knowledge base. The Nonprofit Snapshot provides a micro-assessment and dashboard for nonprofits. His team conducts interviews, reviews key documents, and provides an assessment of an organization’s overall health.
With an evident passion for podcasting and digital content development, Mickey is the producer and co-host of the Nonprofit SnapCast podcast, an interview-based podcast that focuses on nonprofit management topics. As one of our recommended nonprofit podcasts, it covers everything from board development to fundraising, so you’re sure to find something you’re interested in! He also has an impressive leadership background, holding positions like board president for the Georgia River Network.
To stay in the loop with Mickey and hear from the other nonprofit influencers he interviews, check out his podcast or follow Mickey on LinkedIn.
Nathan Hill
Having worked with all-sized nonprofits, Nathan has insight into the sector that he applies to his work as the vice president of marketing at NextAfter. He believes that any nonprofit — no matter its size or budget — can effectively fundraise, create donor relationships, and ultimately amplify its cause by learning from others’ experiences.
Before joining NextAfter, he managed digital marketing for a major nonprofit involved in broadcasting, higher education, and publishing. He directed internal creative and technical marketing staff, oversaw marketing automation platforms, and created multichannel lead generation and fundraising campaigns. Today, he regularly posts and creates content for NextAfter, a company that conducts in-depth fundraising research and shares industry insights with modern nonprofit leaders.
Nathan has also appeared in the company’s podcast: The Generosity Freakshow. Recently, he spoke at Cause Camp 2022, a popular conference that featured some of the top nonprofit influencers, engaging breakout sessions, and one-on-one networking opportunities.
To hear the latest from Nathan, subscribe to the NextAfter blog, where he regularly posts.
Pamela Grow
Since 2012, Pamela has been a leader in the nonprofit training world. She’s empowered all-sized organizations to raise more through her consulting services and online training courses. She’s worked with everyone from grassroots causes to the biggest names in the sector, including Habitat for Humanity and Teach for America.
To help you boil down the latest fundraising news into the must-know information, she publishes Grow Report, a weekly newsletter designed for nonprofit fundraising professionals. Today, her e-newsletter has more than 40,000 subscribers! She’s also been recognized as one of the 50 most influential fundraisers by Civil Society Magazine and as having one of the 25 must-read nonprofit IT blogs by BizTech Magazine.
From checking out Pamela’s website to subscribing to The Grow Report, there are plenty of ways you can hear about the latest in fundraising from this nonprofit influencer.
Ruth Peebles
Ruth Peebles is the president and founder of The Innovative Nonprofit Solutions (INS) Group, an 8a Certified Minority/Woman Owned Small Business (M/WOSB). In her time as a consultant, she’s gained more than 30 years of experience in nonprofit management, fundraising, organizational development, and project management. Her firm offers organizational development and capacity-building assistance through results-driven services like grant writing, strategic planning, succession planning, and board training.
Outside of running her firm, Ruth is also an instructor for the Duke University Certificate Program in Nonprofit Management. While working there, she’s created an array of courses, including ones like Grant Writing and Compliance, Fundraising 101 and Individual Donor Development, Strategic Planning, and Establishing a Successful Direct Mail Campaign.
To receive regular updates, follow The INS Group on Facebook or Twitter.
Sherry Quam Taylor
As the creator of QuamTaylor, Sherry works with growth-minded, high-performing nonprofit CEOs, boards, and fundraising teams who are scaling their organizations. She advises them on how they can reimagine their approach to revenue generation. That way, they can leverage scalable principles that multiply their donation sizes.
Aside from starting her own business, she helped grow a startup nonprofit into a viable, thriving organization. She did so by using the methodology she uses today to level up her nonprofit clients.
Outside of her services, she shares her knowledge by regularly updating her website’s blog with her latest insights. She also hosts a podcast called The Business Behind Fundraising, where she provides advice on how nonprofits can stop blocking overall revenue growth and start attracting investment-level donors. Her expertise and passion for the sector easily make her one of our trusted nonprofit influencers!
You can hear more from her by following Sherry on Twitter or checking out her podcast.
Steven Shattuck
Steven Shattuck is an accomplished author and fundraising expert. He got his start in the sector by producing digital content for organizations like Butler University, Girl Scouts, and the American Heart Association. As a prolific writer, he contributed to “Fundraising Principles and Practice: Second Edition.” In 2020, he released his book “Robots Make Bad Fundraisers: How Nonprofits Can Maintain the Heart in the Digital Age,” which explores strategies for applying the time-tested principles of philanthropy to modern nonprofit technology.
Steven recently wrapped up a decade of working at Bloomerang, where he curated Bloomerang’s sector-leading educational content and hosted their weekly webinar series. He’s volunteered his time to the Project Work Group of the Fundraising Effectiveness Project and the Study Fundraising Steering Group at the Hartsook Centre for Sustainable Philanthropy at Plymouth University. He currently serves as a faculty member of the Institute for Charitable Giving, sits on a committee at AFP Center of Fundraising Innovation, and has spoken at sector conferences like Cause Camp and Planet Philanthropy.
Learn more about this nonprofit influencer and explore his thought leadership by checking out his book or by following Steven on LinkedIn or Twitter.
Taylor Shanklin
Taylor is the founder and CEO of Barlele, a branding, content marketing, and growth strategy agency. She aims to help social do-gooders and growing organizations drive more impact by developing a memorable brand through compelling storytelling, content marketing, and strategic growth coaching. Today, she’s crafted a team with expertise in everything from web development to audio and video production.
Before creating Barlele, she worked for some well-known entities in the nonprofit space, including Pursuant and Firefly Partners. She has plenty of experience leading marketing efforts and overseeing growth initiatives such as brand development, making her a trusted influencer in the nonprofit space!
Outside of running her company, she hosts her podcast, called Soar. It’s her personal thought leadership project designed to help individuals live and work happier.
You can keep up with Taylor’s thought leadership by checking out her company’s website, listening to her podcast, or following Barlele’s Instagram.
Terri Broussard Williams
One of the significant milestones that marked the beginning of Terri’s philanthropic journey was when she landed her role at the American Heart Association. In her 17-year career as a government relations executive, she realized her dream of creating community-shifting outcomes. Throughout her journey, she’s become an award-winning nonprofit executive, lobbyist, and public speaker. She’s devoted her time to transforming public and community service into an art form. At just 28 years old, she spearheaded the movement to pass smoke-free workplace laws in Louisiana and Texas, directly impacting the lives of millions of people through her work.
Over the past 20 years, she’s developed her expertise in government relations, social impact strategy, corporate social responsibility, public affairs, and innovative business operations. She relays that expertise by serving as a consultant to leaders at prestigious nonprofits and social enterprises. As an award-winning speaker, she’s been invited to speak on social impact strategy, diversity and inclusion, women’s leadership, and public policy. She’s also received notable awards, such as being named as one of Austin Business Journal’s Most Influential Women in Central Texas.
To read more about how this nonprofit influencer continues to impact the sector, check out Terri’s personal website, where you can find her blog and podcast. You can also follow her on Instagram to receive regular updates.
Tony Martignetti
With a passion for planned giving, Tony Martignetti has worked to transform how nonprofits raise money since 1997. He got his start creating a successful planned giving program at Iona College before progressing to St. John’s University to do the same.
In 2003, he shifted to helping nonprofits transform their fundraising through planned giving by starting his consulting firm, Martignetti Planned Giving Advisors. Today, he still spends his time helping nonprofits develop their planned giving programs, putting them on a trajectory toward sustainable growth.
With the goal of launching 1,000+ new planned giving programs, Tony leads Planned Giving Accelerator, his online learning community. Members learn from his non-technical, step-by-step approach, how to kick off planned giving fundraising at their nonprofits.
Not to mention, he also hosts his own podcast called Tony Martignetti Nonprofit Radio. Since 2010, he’s used his podcast to interview authors, consultants, and thought leaders in the nonprofit space. He produces an incredible 50 shows a year as a way to support the nonprofit community beyond his consulting services. Keep up with Tony on social media or reach out to him at tony@tonymartignetti.com.
Vu Le
Vu Le is a well-known writer and speaker. He’s also a founder and the former executive director of Rooted in Vibrant Communities (RVC). In his time at RVC, he assisted with fundraising, program management, staff management, and strategic planning while the organization was still a startup. Today, the organization is well-established and focuses on cultivating passionate, emerging leaders of color with the goal of strengthening the organizations they lead and fostering collaboration between diverse communities.
After wrapping up his time there, Vu created Nonprofit AF, which is his blog where he posts about a wide range of nonprofit topics (and also showcases his sense of humor). You can expect a new blog post from Vu once a week, normally on Mondays to help you to start your week off right.
To keep up with this nonprofit influencer’s thought leadership, subscribe to his blog Nonprofit AF by filling out the form on any page of his website. You can also like Nonprofit AF on Facebook, follow Vu on Twitter, or follow Vu’s Instagram.
Sean Hale
With more than 20 years of experience serving mission-driven organizations, Sean leads the Sean Hale Consulting team in providing accounting, finance, and administrative expertise to small and medium-sized nonprofits. Sean’s experience includes serving as the CFO and COO of Mission Capital, co-founding Philanthroforce, and volunteering with Austin Nonprofit Financial Leadership Group. With a Certificate in Management of Nonprofit Corporations from The University of Texas, Sean is a knowledgeable nonprofit management professional.
The conviction that a strong back office is essential to successful nonprofits guides Sean in his work. As a finance and operations advisor, Sean has made improvements that reduced waste, generated new revenue, boosted staff productivity and morale, grew financial transparency, and shrank risk. Additionally, Sean writes the Sean Hale Consulting blog, sharing insights into effective nonprofit operations.
To hear more from Sean, subscribe to his newsletter, like Sean Hale Consulting on Facebook, or check out Sean’s appearance on the NXUnite panel Adding Up and Looking Back: Start of the Fiscal Year Best Practices. Sean can also be reached via email at sean@seanhale.org.
Claire Axelrad
Claire Axelrad, J.D., CFRE is a fundraising visionary with 30 years in-the-trenches development work, plus a decade as a coach/consultant, helping organizations raise millions in support. Her award-winning blog showcases her practical approach, which earned her the AFP “Outstanding Fundraising Professional of the Year” award.
Claire is principal and founder of Clairification, an online fundraising “school” where Claire shares insights, tips, and resources. Her expertise, wisdom, and hands-on coaching support fundraising professionals looking to get “clairity” on their challenges, set priorities, take control, and find the path forward.
In addition to her fundraising blog, Claire offers collaborative coaching and mentoring, online courses, webinars, e-courses, and podcasts. She teaches the CFRE course that certifies professional fundraisers and is a regular contributor to Bloomerang, Candid/Guidestar, NonProfit PRO, and Network for Good.
Enroll in Clairification School to access Claire’s article and other member benefits, and subscribe to Claire’s free newsletter, Clairity Click-It, for curated resources and tips. Keep up with Claire on LinkedIn and Twitter.
Still have questions about nonprofit influencers?
Why should you care about nonprofit influencers?
Nonprofit influencers spend tons of time researching their particular niche. Not to mention, they can help causes and brands they care about reach target audiences that they wouldn’t otherwise reach.
Even if you aren’t considering paid influencer marketing to grow your audience and promote your work, there’s a lot you can learn by following these influencers. Arguably one of the best benefits is connecting to a massive community of professionals who share common interests in advancing the social good. The nonprofit influencer community is an excellent place for nonprofit professionals like you to learn from others, exchange ideas, and celebrate one another’s successes.
What are the different types of nonprofit influencers?
No matter their industry, part of what makes someone an “influencer” is the reach they have, which might be the number of followers or subscribers they’ve amassed. Terms vary, but these are the most common terms used to describe different categories of influencers and their reach:
- Nano-influencers: 1,000–10,000 followers
- Micro-influencers: 10,000–50,000 followers
- Mid-tier influencers: 50,000–500,000 followers
- Macro-influencers: 500,000–1 million followers
- Mega-influencers: 1 million+ followers
Note that the number of followers a nonprofit influencer has does not impact their credibility. For instance, they might specialize in a smaller niche, which will naturally make their pool of followers smaller. In many cases, learning from nano- and micro-influencers can be just as helpful as learning from ones with larger followings!
How can you find nonprofit influencers?
This list is a great starting point! Identifying the best nonprofit influencers to seek advice from doesn’t have to be challenging. If you’re looking for advice on a specific project, think about your overarching goal of the program, the demographics you’re trying to reach, and the values that are essential to your organization.
From here, you can start locating nonprofit influencers by looking through your email lists, conducting Google searches, exploring mission-related hashtags on social media, using Instagram’s “suggested” users to follow feature, and even using influencer tools like Traackr.
I know (or am) a nonprofit influencer. How do I get added to this list?
Great question! This list is our best attempt to create the most extensive and most trustworthy list of nonprofit influencers. Our goal is to expand this list continuously. We understand that the term “influencer” has a fluid definition and that there are plenty of other great nonprofit influencers out there who aren’t featured on this list. If you think we’ve omitted someone who would be a great addition, reach out to content@nxunite.com or fill out this survey (linked here), and we’ll consider adding them when our next updated list comes out.
