Panel: New School Meets Old School Fundraising — Creating Meaningful Donor Experiences In a Digital World

For over two decades, Deb has lead diverse, multi-affiliate, national fundraising and revenue generating initiatives for worthy charitable causes across the nation, including MDA and March of Dimes, as well as local and regional causes. Her focus is to activate data-responsive, donor-centric nonprofit teams to create record-setting events, cultivate major donors and innovate corporate collaborations in support of the organization’s mission by leading a team with passion and purpose to foster partnership and volunteer engagement for the mission.

Cherian Koshy is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP), & AFP Master Trainer. He is the Vice President of Development at Merit America and the founder of the Nonprofit Operating System. He has raised over $100M for various nonprofits, holds advanced certifications in Behavioral Economics, and was a former successful debating coach. He is a sought-after trainer and speaker, and his thought leadership has been featured in several publications.

LaShonda Williams, MPA, CFRE, serves a Trainer for Fundraising Academy, and recently joined the team at South Texas College of Law as the Associate Director of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving, in the college’s centennial year. She leads the charge of developing and implementing alumni engagement strategic planning and acquisition. With nearly two decades of experience in higher education, LaShonda’s mission is to secure philanthropic support for students seeking economic empowerment through education.

Mark founded Cathexis Partners in 2008. He oversees Cathexis Partners, ensuring every client receives the attention and quality of service they expect. Mark previously served as director of IT consulting at a fundraising event production company focused on nonprofits. For more than 15 years, Mark has supported hundreds of nonprofit online fundraising efforts.

Shawn Olds is a technology and communications thought leader serving as the CEO for boodleAI. He is a military veteran and current Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army. Shawn has found ample success in both private and government sectors and continues to dedicate his time to supporting nonprofit organizations and their missions.

Shawn holds a BS in Computer Science from the US Military Academy, an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management, and JD from the Northwestern School of Law.

Barbara is a seasoned fundraising consultant on a mission to help more nonprofits raise more money by creating strong donor experiences. During her in-house career she led record-setting reunion classes, secured tens of millions of dollars from global corporations following some of the most devastating natural disasters around the world, and oversaw a team that grew donor engagement of major individual donors. Barbara knows that fundraising is much more than just asking for money.

Her firm, Windmill Hill Consulting, works with nonprofits to give them to resources, skills and mindset they need to build more effective donor relationships and catapult their revenue.

She serves as past president of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Washington DC Metro Chapter. She sits on the board of the BBB Wise Giving Alliance and AFP Foundation and chairs the Research Committee for the Giving USA Foundation. In 2020, she joined the faculty at the University of Maryland’s Do Good Institute teaching nonprofit fundraising.