Starting Point

Annual Giving Network
  • 4.4 (9)
  • EDUCATION
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Starting Point is the AGN podcast that features interesting people from across the world of annual giving and educational fundraising. Tune in with host Dan Allenby to find out how each guest got started, who inspired them, mistakes they made, decisions that mattered, and why annual giving is important to them.

  1. 09/01/2025

    E36: Ann Lawrence Grasty - Showing Your Enthusiasm

    Ann Lawrence Grasty, Executive Director, University Annual Giving & Stewardship at the University of Virginia, talks about showing your enthusiasm, living your life, starting with trust, leveraging shared experiences, entering traffic circles, and more!

    46 min

  2. 08/01/2025

    E35: Jake Strang - Raising Your Hand

    Jake Strang, Associate Vice Chancellor for Individual Giving at the University of Pittsburgh talks about raising your hand, valuing strong leadership, utilizing data, telling meaningful stories, being the “Beatles of Annual Giving”, and more!

    40 min

  3. 07/01/2025

    E34: Carolyn Haddad - Seeing Amazing Things

    Carolyn Haddad, Director of Class Giving and Initiatives at Brown University, talks about seeing amazing things that students can do, making educated guesses, letting donors know what you know, creating time to be creative, being a good communicator, and more!

    37 min

  4. 06/01/2025

    E33: Mike Morsberger - Sending Handwritten Notes

    Mike Morsberger, Vice President for Institutional Advancement at University of the Virgin Islands, talks about the importance of sending handwritten notes, smiling and dialing, asking open-ended questions, making a gift yourself, being the best you can be, and more!

    51 min

  5. 05/01/2025

    E32: Kara Tompkins - Building More Trust

    Kara Tompkins, Executive Director of Philanthropic Engagement at Syracuse University, talks about building more trust, bifurcating your program, focusing on the good, collaborating with others thinking about next steps, and more!

    41 min

  6. 04/01/2025

    E31: Josh Nay - Embracing Other Duties

    Josh Nay, Director of Advancement at Solebury School, talks about embracing other duties, valuing authenticity, succeeding as an introvert, knowing what to listen for, being kind and more!

    43 min

  7. 03/01/2025

    E30: Kellie Sullivan - Sticking It Out

    Kellie Sullivan, Executive Director of Annual Giving at Boston University, talks about sticking it out, using data, solving the world’s problems, appreciating people who are willing to say no, coming full circle, and more!

    43 min

  8. 02/01/2025

    E29: Mike O’Brien - Being a Pro

    Mike O’Brien, Associate Vice President for Individual Giving at Wheaton College talks about being a pro, articulating your mission, focusing your efforts, boosting people up, knowing how to think, and more!

    39 min
See All (36)

Ratings & Reviews

4.4
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

Starting Point is the AGN podcast that features interesting people from across the world of annual giving and educational fundraising. Tune in with host Dan Allenby to find out how each guest got started, who inspired them, mistakes they made, decisions that mattered, and why annual giving is important to them.

Information

  • Creator
    Annual Giving Network
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    36
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Annual Giving Network
  • Show Website
    Starting Point