RAISE Podcast EverTrue

On this episode of the RAISE Podcast, Brent takes it back to his alma mater and interviews Sergio Gonzalez, Senior Vice President for Advancement at Brown University.

Their conversation spans various facets of university development, emphasizing the significance of cross-campus collaboration, the evolving advancement tech stack, and the need to stay focused on building meaningful and authentic relationships – with teammates, with donors, and with peers across the sector.

Sergio reflects on the importance of presidential buy-in and involvement, the ripple effects that higher ed philanthropy has on surrounding communities, and the huge industry value add of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE).

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On this episode of the RAISE Podcast, Brent chats with Michael Andreasen, Vice Chancellor for Development at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

Mike looks back on the twists and turns that led him to Chapel Hill, including his work on some incredible, transformational gifts like Stephen Ross gift to name the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan.

Mike shares stories about how a near-firing experience changed his whole approach to fundraising for the better, how he approaches lifelong stewardship, and how new data analytics and advances in technology will benefit society.

Brent and Mike tackle some big questions during this conversation: How can philanthropy bring about positive change in a shorter amount of time? Why should fundraisers ask for certain gift amounts? How can advancement shops reach more alumni while also being more authentic, genuine, and personalized in their connections?

Tune in for a conversation that is sure to get you fired up about higher education and the real-time, life-changing power of philanthropy.

On this episode of the RAISE Podcast, Brent hosts Jeff Webb, President and CEO of the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association & Foundation.

Jeff shares memories of growing up in a military family, the process of applying to a Service Academy, the rigor of earning a degree at the US Naval Academy, and his experience working in Naval Special Warfare after graduation. He traces his transition to the wealth management industry, where he spent over 15 years before moving into the world of philanthropy.

Jeff reflects on the threads that tie together the different eras of his career: hard work, humility, and commitment to something greater than self. He also explains why he is so passionate about fundraising for the Naval Academy: "We are supporting the development of the future leaders of our military who protect our freedoms."

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On this episode of the RAISE Podcast, Brent hosts Mark Delos Reyes Davis, Vice Chancellor for University Relations at University of California, Santa Cruz and President of the UC Santa Cruz Foundation.

Mark reflects on the the twists and turns of a fundraising career that has led him to some of the country’s highest-performing fundraising shops, including Rice, Hawaii Pacific, and Carnegie Mellon. He shares how his experience as a first-generation college graduate, his years as a Presidential Chief of Staff, and his time as marketing lead for capital campaigns have influenced his perspective and approach to leadership today.

Mark also covers the topic of diversity, equity, and inclusion – acknowledging that while the advancement industry has made strides in the realm of DEIB&J, there is still a long way to go towards building teams, closing gifts, and cultivating relationships that support and represent the diverse communities we serve.

When asked how he feels about ultimately landing in sunny Santa Cruz, Mark says, "UC Santa Cruz is the most beautiful campus in the country. Who wouldn't want to be a Slug? It's one of very few institutions (as an AAU, HSI, and AANAPISI) that is equally committed to leading research and educational access."

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“We won’t give you a playbook. We will give you big questions. You’ll wrestle with those questions with your peers – and they will challenge you to think differently.” – Alex Lawrence, Executive Director, Advancement Leadership Lab

On a previous episode of the RAISE Podcast, our guest Justin Fincher reflected on one of the most influential experiences in his fundraising career: his membership with the Advancement Leadership Lab.

And that wasn't the first time we had heard about the career-changing impact of "the Lab" on the podcast. Other guests such as Rhea Turteltaub, Martin Shell, and Josh Newton have also shared that the Advancement Leadership Lab continues to play a major role in their development as advancement leaders.

So, of course, we had to learn more.

On this special episode of the RAISE Podcast, Brent Grinna hosts Michael Eicher, Senior Vice President for Advancement at the Ohio State University, and Alex Lawrence, Executive Director of the Advancement Leadership Lab.

Tune in for a conversation about the conception, development, and launch of the immersive leadership experience that is causing ripple effects throughout the advancement industry.

On this episode of the RAISE Podcast, Brent chats with Scott Rabenold, Senior Vice President for University Advancement at the University of Southern California.

Scott just rounded out year one is this new SVP role, and he reflects on the twists, turns, mentors, and sponsors that eventually led him to land in sunny Los Angeles, home of the Trojans.

During this conversation, Scott shares thoughts on converting nostalgia into philanthropy, the power of polite persistence in donor outreach, and what happens when fundraisers practice ruthless prioritization of their time.

Spoiler alert: Scott has led fundraising teams that 2x'd revenue by focusing on 1)getting meetings, 2)going on meetings, and 3)following up on meetings.

Also featured on this episode: Brent and Scott’s shared love for small town Iowa, Scott’s Big 10 basketball moment of fame, and why all advancement shops should copy USC’s “Go Bigger” team awards for high-performers.

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