Panel: Explore the New Frontiers in Fundraising

Brenda Asare joined The Alford Group in 2004 and assumed the role of President & CEO in 2014. Brenda brings nearly 30 years of management and cross-sector experience and has assisted clients in raising over $2 billion, focusing on campaign execution, strategic planning, corporate partnerships, board leadership development and organizational design.

Prior to joining The Alford Group, she was Chief Development Officer with the American Red Cross in Chicago where she led various disaster fundraising efforts raising over $100 million.

Additionally, Brenda is 1st Vice Chair of the Giving Institute and serves as a board member for numerous philanthropic organizations. Brenda is a frequent speaker on the intersection of diversity and philanthropy and has mentored many talented development professionals. In 2019, Brenda was recognized as Crain’s Notable Minorities in Consulting for her remarkable work in the nonprofit sector. In 2021, she was recognized as Crain’s Notable Black Leaders & Executives.

Education & Certifications:

• MBA Marketing, Washington University in St. Louis where she received
  the prestigious Dean’s Service Award
• B.S. Business, University of South Carolina

Clients Served Includes:
YWCA USA, Presbyterian Church of the USA, The Chicago Community Trust, The Art Institute of Chicago, DuSable Museum, Conservation International, The ARK, Rancho Coastal Humane Society, Brady United, Carole Robertson Center for Learning, Greater Chicago Food Depository, Coastal Community Foundation, NorthShore University HealthSystem Foundation, Habitat for Humanity International, The Wilderness Society.

Fun Fact: Brenda is a “quotes” collector. Her favorite is “My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor and some style.” – Maya Angelou

Pat created The Giving Block with Co-Founder Alex Wilson in 2018, developing the leading solutions that charities, universities and other nonprofits use to fundraise cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.

They quickly established themselves as the leading crypto fundraising experts through the explosive growth of their programs at Save the Children and United Way Worldwide. Over the last four years, The Giving Block has turned cryptocurrency into the fastest growing donation method, founding the industry’s giving pledge, giving days and crowdfunding platform.

Today, Pat, Alex and their team are honored to be building Crypto-Philanthropy programs for hundreds of nonprofits raising millions every month.

A serial entrepreneur and Harvard MBA, Steve spent the last 25 years in finance, digital marketing and advanced analytics. Before founding DonateStock in 2020, Steve launched and grew 2 digital marketing technology companies and 2 nonprofits. He has been a contributing author and thought leader in the marketing and financial services industries and is a lifelong supporter, fundraiser and volunteer for many worthy causes.

Jeannie Infante Sager is the director of the Women’s Philanthropy Institute which is housed under the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy in Indianapolis, Indiana. WPI envisions a world where women donors understand and use their growing power and influence to support causes they care about; where fundraisers and nonprofit leaders take women seriously and approach them in ways that appeal to them; and where both women and men are giving, giving more, and giving more intentionally and effectively.

Jeannie leads WPI’s efforts to translate research to practice, works closely with WPI’s national advisory council and serves on the executive leadership team for the LFSoP. She has been quoted in a wide array of media outlets including The New York Times, the Washington Post, and Fortune Magazine. An active speaker on a range of topics related to women’s philanthropy, she has presented to national and international audiences. She serves as an associate professor with the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and teaches with The Fundraising School.

Jeannie is a seasoned nonprofit executive with over 25 years of experience in health care, higher education, and independent school leadership. She most recently served on the leadership team that created the IU Health Foundation. Nationally, she serves as chair for the Indiana University Alumni Association’s board of managers and on the advisory council for WOC – Women of Color in Fundraising and Philanthropy. In service to women and girls, Jeannie is on the board of directors for Girls Inc. of Greater Indiana and Women for Change Indiana.
Jeannie earned her master’s degree in philanthropic studies from Indiana University where she was a Jane Addams Fellow and earned a bachelor’s degree in international relations from Rollins College.