DonorSearch Philanthropy Masterminds

The motto of the Three Musketeers— All for One and One for All —might have something to teach us about the power of coming together around a shared vision that can drive a major donor campaign. Bob Hotz has immersed himself in strategic planning, executive nonprofit management, development, and fundraising for the past 33 years. His strong dedication to nonprofit organizations is rooted in his belief that successful leaders strive to align all available human, financial, and physical resources of an organization with its mission.

In this episode, we speak with Rachel Hutchisson, a social impact executive with over three decades of experience working at the intersection of business, society, and the nonprofit sector. Rachel is a former leader of the Global Social Responsibility effort at Blackbaud, a 3,300-person publicly traded cloud software company. During her tenure at Blackbaud, Rachel built the company’s “give back” function from the ground up, relying on her expertise in ESG/sustainability, strategic communications, corporate philanthropy, and building programs that drive social impact while engaging employees, customers, and the community. Rachel is also a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion, women's leadership, and investing in future generations. She currently serves on the board of various organizations, including The Giving Institute, Common Impact, and Athletes' Voices. We begin with her earliest recollections as a world traveler at the age of five.

Clay is an experienced fundraiser with proven experience in all aspects of development. He has particular expertise in developing the systems and infrastructure that support donor-centered fundraising, particularly with individual donors and annual giving. Having been both a front-line fundraiser at several nonprofits across the country and a consultant for large, national firms, he brings a unique perspective on developing and crafting fundraising programs that really work.

Today's guest is Armando Zumaya, a man who has been a significant force in major fundraising efforts since the 1980s. From door-knocking to billion dollar plus campaigns and, more recently, leading development efforts for top arts and social service institutions, Armando has become synonymous with fearless, data-driven fundraising. He is also a leading advocate for Latinx philanthropy and fundraising, putting this topic front and center through his newly formed organization, Somos El Poder. We spoke with him about the origins of this work, its importance, and the change he envisions is possible through this advocacy.

Ken Phillips was named Outstanding Fundraising Professional by the Association of Fundraising Professionals in 2024, the organization's highest honor. Since his career began in 1961, ken has served in leadership roles at the Institute for International Education, Save the Children, and Plan International, where he revolutionized marketing and donor outreach, dramatically increasing public awareness and revenues. He founded his consultancy, NGO Futures, in 1995 and has since provided hundreds of training courses in 35 countries and his books and articles on fundraising, leadership, and strategic planning have reached audiences around the world. We spoke with Ken in April at AFP ICON in Toronto.