Expert Philanthropy and Charitable Giving Consultants

Vanessa Getty is a San Francisco philanthropist, animal welfare advocate, and civic leader whose work has helped shape Bay Area charitable giving for more than two decades. Born and raised in San Francisco, she graduated from UCLA and married Billy Getty in 1999; the couple has three children and remains closely rooted in the city's cultural and civic life. Getty founded San Francisco Bay Humane Friends in 2005, building a mobile spay-neuter and vaccination program that has reduced animal surrender rates across Bay Area communities. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA and is actively raising funds to support shelters in California's Central Valley. She also serves on the board of the Orangutan Foundation International and is a longtime supporter of amfAR and the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. In addition to her nonprofit work, she co-founded GettyLab, a private fund that makes direct investments in applied sciences, including seed-round financing for university incubators. Her commercial partnerships reflect the same values: she completed four advertising campaigns for Judith Leiber, with all proceeds benefiting her animal welfare charity. Named to Vanity Fair's International Best-Dressed List, Getty is recognized for turning fashion and high-profile events into effective fundraising engines for causes ranging from animal welfare and AIDS research to arts education and children's health.

Business Leader, Global Policy Expert, Media Personality, Author, Philanthropist, Founder at GCBR and TCSL Campaign Also Shinespot Light Cultivating Awareness Podcast, Fridays For Future Richmond (Richmond Park) and number of projects. Aquayemi-Claude Garnett Akinsanya is a multifaceted social entrepreneur, media strategist and sustainability advocate with over 7 years of experience in building impactful brands and campaigns. As CEO and founder of Garnetts Clothing Brand & Range and The Claudes SEN Law Campaign, he merges fashion, social justice and environmental advocacy to drive meaningful change. He is also a recognized public speaker and thought leader, featured by Forbes for his expertise in marketing and business growth strategies. Aquayemi-Claude has won the 2024 Global Recognition Award for his contributions to sustainable fashion, social justice and environmental causes. With a strong background in media, communications and nonprofit leadership, he actively mentors startup founders, influences policy on disability rights and promotes diversity and inclusion through board-level advisory roles.

Erin Herman is a globally respected leadership strategist and keynote speaker whose work sits at the intersection of change, human-centered leadership, and performance at scale. Over the course of two decades, she has advised Fortune 500 executive teams and global institutions on how to lead through uncertainty with courage, empathy, and clarity—often in moments where the stakes could not be higher. Her leadership experience includes senior roles with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the United Nations, where she helped shape global corporate partnership strategies in service of the world’s most vulnerable populations. While working within the United Nations system through UNICEF, Erin co-created the Learning Passport in partnership with Microsoft and Cambridge University—an online and mobile education platform designed to deliver continuous access to quality learning for children affected by conflict, displacement, and crisis. The platform has since reached learners in more than 40 countries and was recognized by TIME Magazine as one of the 100 Best Inventions and ranked by the Project Management Institute as the third most influential project in the world. Erin also played a central role in securing one of the largest philanthropic commitments ever made to a children’s hospital: a $300 million, 10-year partnership that continues to drive life-saving impact at scale. Today, Erin is known for translating extraordinary global experience into clear, grounded insight for leaders navigating complexity in the modern workplace. She is the creator of the CEG Method™ (Courage, Empathy, Growth Mindset) and the 4Cs Methodology™ (Conviction, Courage, Clarity, Confidence), frameworks trusted by organizations seeking sustainable change without burnout or performative leadership. A sought-after voice on women’s leadership, organizational culture, and decision-making under pressure, Erin is recognized for her ability to cut through noise with intelligence, warmth, and precision—delivering perspective that is both deeply human and powerfully actionable.

Tina T. Duong is a philanthropic innovator and mission-driven executive with 25+ years of leadership at the intersection of philanthropy, sustainability, and social responsibility. She is the Founder & CEO of ImpactPro Tech®, a first-of-its-kind SaaS platform that automates donor intelligence mining and fuels multimillion-dollar fundraising initiatives. Previously, Tina held senior leadership roles at the World Resources Institute, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Asia Society, Habitat for Humanity and The Asian American Foundation, where she drove 7–8 figure philanthropic investments, aligned global partnerships, and spearheaded transformative campaigns. Her career highlights include securing $150M in climate funding, leading the communications campaign behind the largest housing bond in U.S. history ($2.85B), and revitalizing board engagement to historic levels. She is known for turning bold vision into measurable impact.

I work as a Growth Consultant at GrantBite, a funding search platform focused on simplifying how people discover and access financial opportunities. My work centers on driving digital growth through experimentation, performance marketing, funnel optimization, user engagement, and product-led strategies. I collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify growth levers, improve user journeys, and scale acquisition in a sustainable way. With a strong interest in data, behavioral insights, and scalable growth systems, I enjoy turning complex platforms into intuitive digital experiences that grow through impact, not hype.

Phil Sanger is the CEO and founder of HelloFund, auction and event management software built specifically for nonprofits and schools running galas and benefit auctions. Since founding HelloFund in 2017, Phil has helped hundreds of organizations across the country raise millions through silent auctions, live auctions, Fund-a-Need appeals, and fundraising galas. HelloFund clients average $127,000+ in credit card volume per event — more than double what organizations typically see on general fundraising platforms. The platform holds a 4.8 out of 5 rating from 90+ nonprofits and schools on Capterra. Phil's expertise spans the full event fundraising lifecycle: item procurement strategy, mobile bidding, guest management, Fund-a-Need appeals, flat-fee vs. percentage-based pricing models, and post-event donor stewardship. He works directly with PTAs, booster clubs, private schools, Catholic schools, and nonprofits running events from $25,000 to well over $500,000. HelloFund is based in Austin, TX and was purpose-built for organizations that want a dedicated event specialist in their corner — not just software and a help doc.

Emilie Given is the Founder & CEO of She’s A Given, a U.S.-based virtual executive assistant agency that has paired more than 200 clients with personalized executive support. Under her leadership, the company has surpassed $4 million in lifetime revenue while giving back over $100,000 in discounted services to nonprofits and solopreneurs. Her expertise lies in delegation, productivity, and feminist entrepreneurship, and she is widely recognized for her signature message: “Delegation is a Feminist Act.” Emilie has built her career around showing leaders how to reclaim time, scale their impact, and achieve genuine work-life harmony by pairing with skilled executive assistants. Before launching her agency, Emilie began her career at Amazon, an experience that shaped her systems-thinking approach to executive support and business operations. Beyond her company, Emilie is deeply committed to philanthropy and community involvement. She served as Gala Chair for the March of Dimes Signature Chefs Gala in 2024, is a former March of Dimes board member, and previously served on the Community Bridges NW board. Emilie also hosted The Coast Podcast, where she highlighted stories of entrepreneurship and resilience. Over her six years of entrepreneurship, she has personally donated to more than 100 organizations whose causes she deeply resonates with. She continues to volunteer weekly at her local elementary school, serves on the PTA to support Title I students, and donates 50% of resale profits from her secondary business to neighborhood schools. Her leadership and impact have been recognized nationally — she was named to the Entreprenista 100 list of top female founders and has been featured in outlets including Forbes, Business Insider, Fast Company, Seattle Refined, and more. Emilie is also a speaker, coach, and writer, helping executive assistants transition into fulfilling remote careers and guiding founders to lead with greater freedom and ease. She is currently writing her memoir, Unwanted, which explores her journey from a childhood in foster care and surviving near-death childbirth to becoming a successful entrepreneur and advocate for women reclaiming their time.

Teaching you how to raise more money to help more people. Vice President of Marketing for CRISTA Ministries Lead diverse team of creative staff, writers, conversion experts, consultants, and analysts. Managing fundraising via direct mail, social media, web marketing, monthly donors and integrating offline marketing into the digital space to increase revenue and donors. * Author of Magnetic Nonprofit, 24 Fundraising Trends & Predictions for 2024, The Post-Pandemic Nonprofit, and Raise More Money with Email: Activate Digital Giving at Your Nonprofit, a book to help you succeed in digital fundraising. * Host of Nonprofit Answers Podcast, helping nonprofit leaders raise more money to help more people. ☞ Advisory Council, Christian Leadership Alliance ☞ Digital Strategy Committee, Direct Marketing Association Specialties: Fundraising, direct marketing, audience development, lead generation, content creation, search engine optimization, social media marketing, technology, WordPress.

For over 30 years, Jim has been a change agent in the nonprofit and public sectors. Just recently, he finished his 7th interim executive position. Jim was the Interim CEO of the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, a visual and performing arts center in the heart of the cultural and convention district of San Francisco. There, he helped reduce a projected $4M deficit to $600k surplus and built back trust with the staff after a major public relations crisis. Previously, Jim was the Interim CEO of Downtown Streets Team, a nonprofit rated as one of California’s top five evidence-based best practices in transitioning the homeless to self-sufficiency. Over 18 months, he turned an $800,000 deficit into a $500,000 surplus while also paying off a third of their debt. Previously, he served as the interim executive director of five other nonprofits. His additional positions include acting as the Chief Communications Officer for the American Red Cross in Colorado, the interim Chief Operating Officer for More than Me (an international nonprofit for girls in Africa), and the Chief External Relations Officer for the Minnesota Zoo. In addition to his nonprofit work, Jim is passionate about good government. Jim was the VP of Strategy at CivicMakers, a San Francisco government innovation consultancy. There, he co-facilitated a three year strategic roadmap for the City of Hayward and designed process improvements for over 40 internal procedures for the City of Berkeley. As a 2014 Humphrey School Policy Fellow, 2013 White House Innovation Fellow finalist, and winner of the 2012 Minnesota Idea Open, he has been recognized for excellence within the public sector. Jim holds a master’s degree in public policy from Duke University and a bachelor’s degree in political science and communications from the University of Pennsylvania. To find out more, go to https://www.jimrettew.com

Christopher Zoukis, JD, MBA, is a nationally recognized federal prison expert. He serves as Managing Director at Elizabeth Franklin-Best P.C. and Zoukis Consulting Group, where his federal criminal defense practice focuses on federal appeals, post-conviction relief, compassionate release, clemency, and Bureau of Prisons policy matters. Mr. Zoukis is the author of six books on federal criminal defense and prison policy, including The Habeas Citebook: Ineffective Assistance of Counsel (Prison Legal News Publishing, 3rd ed. forthcoming 2025), Federal Criminal Defendant’s Handbook (Middle Street Publishing, forthcoming 2025), Directory of Federal Prisons (2020), Federal Prison Handbook (2017), Prison Education Guide (2017), and College for Convicts (2014). His Federal Prison Handbook received numerous awards, including the Reader’s Favorite Book Awards Gold Medal, the Next Generation Indie Book Award, and the Chanticleer Book Awards Instructional & Insightful Nonfiction Award. College for Convicts received the Eric Hoffer Book Award’s Montaigne Medal for the most thought-provoking book of the year. Mr. Zoukis earned his Juris Doctor from the University of California, Davis School of Law, where he served as Articles Editor of the UC Davis Law Review and received both the Witkin Award and Reynoso Award for Academic Excellence. He also holds an MBA and a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies from Adams State University. Major media outlets regularly seek his expertise. He has been quoted in CNN, Fox News, ABC News, Associated Press, USA Today, The Washington Post, The Guardian, Bloomberg Law, and Vice News, among others. He has contributed articles to the Huffington Post, New York Daily News, Prison Legal News, and Criminal Legal News. Mr. Zoukis’s Prison Law Blog was named a Top Law Blawg by the American Bar Association, and he was a finalist for the Society of Professional Journalists’ Mark of Excellence Award. He has assisted hundreds of clients with federal prison preparation, in-prison advocacy, and reentry matters, and is considered a leading voice on federal prison policy nationwide. Learn more about Chris at https://federalcriminaldefenseattorney.com/about/christopher-zoukis-federal-prison-consultant/

As the CEO and Founder of Crusaders for Change® (C4C), LLC, our team delivers a specialized approach to financial stewardship that focuses on the human heart and the emotional weight of money as much as the numbers. Led by a team of Accredited Financial Counselors®️, we have built a dedicated space where genuine financial healing and long-term freedom are achievable for families from all walks of life. Within the corporate and organizational sector, we developed our signature Financial Wellness Program to directly combat the "silent tax" of financial stress that often plagues the workplace. By addressing these stressors through professional counseling and support, we partner with businesses to improve employee retention, boost productivity, and foster a culture of total well-being. Our commitment to community impact is further realized through our proprietary Community Financial Empowerment Series®, where we offer transformative educational workshops and personalized one-on-one counseling designed to help individuals regain confidence, clarity, and control over their financial futures. We also engage a global audience through the Yahweh’s Money® Podcast, which provides spiritual and practical stewardship guidance, and the Tickle My Money Bone!® platform, which utilizes humor and comedy to demystify complex financial topics and break down the barriers of money-related anxiety. With over two decades of professional experience and a highly decorated history of leadership, our mission remains centered on equipping families and organizations with the tools to transition from financial overwhelm to a future of abundance, resilience, and intentional peace.

Philanthropist, father, and startup executive with over 18 years of experience leading companies from founding to exit with specific focus on Partnership Development, Marketing, PR, Sales, and overall Strategy and Growth. Grant’s been a board member and donor to a number of non-profits, an advisor to many publicly traded companies and a guest speaker at seminars and graduate school courses.He’s a regular media guest and expert on all things related to internet companies and has been featured in Forbes, Business Insider, American Express, MSN, Bloomberg Businessweek, AOL, Thrive Global, Reader's Digest, Inside Higher Ed, Evolllution, EducationDive, and over 100 other outlets, radio shows and podcasts.Currently, he’s been on a fulfilling edtech mission making college more affordable and accessible for everyone at OnlineDegree.com. Prior to that, Grant has worked in industries and projects in healthcare, aesthetics, pharmaceuticals, medical device, artificial intelligence, SaaS and enterprise software, Bitcoin/blockchain, and nutrition.

John H. Corcoran is a former White House Writer, speechwriter, an attorney, an author and a B2B podcasting expert. He started his career as a Writer in the Clinton White House, and today is cofounder of Rise25, LLC with Dr. Jeremy Weisz, who is the longtime host of the top rated INspired INsider podcast, and former senior producer for one of the earliest groundbreaking business podcasts. Rise25 helps B2B businesses to connect with their ideal clients, referral partnerships and strategic partners using done-for-you podcasts and content marketing. Rise25 has worked with clients ranging from a division of Berkshire Hathaway to one of the nation's largest live event ticket sellers, along consulting companies, advertising agencies and law firms. Rise25 provides both high-level strategy around how to get great ROI and leverage with a podcast; and their platform and team distributes those podcasts across all the major podcast platforms and social media. He is a recovering attorney and the creator of Smart Business Revolution and the Smart Business Revolution podcast, where he shares strategies for using intentional relationship-building to grow your network and your income, and since 2010 he has interviewed hundreds of successful entrepreneurs about how they have used relationships to grow their businesses and their careers. He is an active member of Entrepreneurs Organization (EO) San Francisco, where he serves on the board. He is the author of 3 books about relationship building and client acquisition, and has been profiled in Forbes and in the books Entrepreneurial You (Harvard Business Review Press 2017) and Stand Out (Portfolio 2015) by Dorie Clark, The Connector’s Advantage (Page Two 2019) by Michelle Tillis Lederman, Success Is In Your Sphere (McGraw-Hill Education 2019) by Zvi Band, and The Successful Mistake by Matthew Turner, and his writing has appeared in Forbes, Entrepreneur, Huffington Post, Art of Manliness, Lifehacker, Business Insider, and numerous other publications, blogs and websites. He lives in the San Francisco Bay area with his wife and 4 kids.

I’m passionate about building and investing in businesses that create meaningful impact…

As a seasoned philanthropic and community-engagement professional, Michele Rebeor helps non-profit organizations create effective and efficient strategies to cultivate and build meaningful relationships with donors resulting in advancing the level of contributions and sustainable donors. Michele has also developed a niche expertise in women-focused philanthropy, educating and guiding nonprofits in the nuances of women as donors and integrating those actions into their development practices. Michele's work encompasses capital campaigns, women-focused philanthropy, and standardizing development practices resulting in new heights of engagement and contributions for non-profits. Michele has more than 28 years of experience building innovative programs focused on internal and external constituent relationships. She customizes her services to meet the budgets, staffing and resources for each client to maximize a return on their investment.

Patrick Kirby is the Founder of Do Good Better Consulting and a believer that “we’ve…

Getrude Matshe is an internationally recognised thought leader, social entrepreneur, and TEDx speaker whose work sits at the intersection of storytelling, leadership, and inclusive innovation. With four TEDx talks to her name, she is known for her powerful message that your voice is your instrument to transformation and liberation—and that no one should go to their grave with their story untold. As the Founder of The HerStory Circle, Getrude has built a global multimedia platform dedicated to amplifying women’s voices through podcasts, digital publishing, summits, speaker coaching, and leadership development. Her work particularly champions women over 50 who are reinventing themselves as speakers, authors, and thought leaders. Through her signature programs, including Speaking from the Heart: How to Land Your First TEDx Talk, she has mentored aspiring speakers to craft compelling ideas worth spreading and step confidently onto global stages. Getrude is also the architect of the Ubuntu + AI framework—an innovative leadership philosophy that merges the African principle of Ubuntu (“I am because we are”) with ethical, human-centred technology design. Drawing on her early career in IT as a COBOL programmer and her return to tech decades later, she advocates for building digital systems that prioritise dignity, inclusion, and access—especially for women and underserved communities in emerging markets. An accomplished business leader, Getrude founded and grew GM Global Investments Ltd from $500 to a multimillion-dollar enterprise. Her entrepreneurial journey reflects resilience, strategic vision, and a deep commitment to collective prosperity. She is currently developing Soko, a fintech-enabled marketplace designed to empower artisans—particularly women in the Global South—to access global markets through technology and AI-driven visibility. Through keynote speaking, executive coaching, publishing, and ecosystem building, Getrude continues to shape conversations around leadership, equity, and the future of work. Her mission is clear: to help individuals reclaim their voice, build platforms of impact, and design a future where progress is collective and dignity is shared.

Elizabeth Gavino, Medicare Strategist Lewin & Gavino Inc. | Medicare Transition Partners Elizabeth Gavino is a Medicare Strategist with 30 years of experience helping high-net-worth individuals, executives, and employers navigate Medicare transitions before they become costly, irreversible mistakes. She is the founder of Medicare Transition Partners and the creator of the CMTA (Certified Medicare Transition Advisor) credentialing program — the first professional credential designed to train advisors on Medicare transition strategy. Elizabeth has been cited as a Medicare expert source in over 100 articles for CNBC and CNN. She specializes in Medicare strategy and planning, IRMAA and income planning, retirement healthcare costs, and employer Medicare transitions. Based in La Jolla, California.

As a frontline fundraiser turned philanthropy communications strategist, Emily deeply understands the joys and challenges of raising money for complex organizations—and the vital role communications play at every step of the process. She is a champion of philanthropy and a trusted advisor to senior leaders in higher education advancement and communications.

With over 20 years of experience in development and philanthropy, I am the CEO and founder of LG. Philanthropy, a company that supports non-profit organizations and communities in driving positive impacts. I leverage my career expertise to inspire and empower my clients by creating bespoke plans and strategies that meet their specific needs and goals.As a positive and open communicator, I build authentic and meaningful relationships with donors, partners, volunteers, and colleagues, and employ exceptional donor relations and stewardship practices. I am passionate about helping others maximize the impact of their giving through strategic philanthropic partnerships. I also enjoy leading and motivating teams that produce measurable results and lasting change. I am entrepreneurial and methodical in my approach, and I use innovation and proven processes to diversify the donor base and pipeline, and generate revenue growth.