Presenter: Jim Bush, Principal and CEO, Winkler Group
Date: June 24, 2026 from 12:00-1:00 PM CST
Course Title: Engaging Major Donor’s with Your Organization’s Future
Your major donors already have a vision for your organization's future—this session is about how to bring that vision into the same conversation as yours. Jim Bush walks through how strategic planning and feasibility studies can become powerful tools for donor engagement, cultivation, and long-term campaign readiness
Jim Bush has been a development professional and fundraising consultant for more than 30 years. Recognized as an expert in his field, he has helped organizations of every size raise more than $300 million through major and capital campaigns, annual giving programs, and planned giving initiatives.
He has led or overseen successful campaigns for organizations across the country—including Christ Presbyterian Academy, St. Bernard Academy, and Siloam Health in Nashville, as well as The Covenant School and others. His work in Middle Tennessee has strengthened donor relationships and supported transformational growth for a wide range of nonprofit missions.
Prior to joining the Winker Group, Jim devoted his career to being a fundraising practitioner and has developed comprehensive fundraising programs for nationally known organizations including World Vision, the American Red Cross, the YMCA, Northwell Health, and Elon University.
Jim is a noted lecturer, trainer, and teacher. He has presented at more than fifty national and international fundraising conferences; he has been named the top speaker at six national and international conferences. His articles on fundraising have been published in leading nonprofit journals. He has served on the national fundraising faculty for the YMCA and currently serves on the faculty of the South Carolina Nonprofit Leadership Institute.
Jim holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and public administration from Elon University. He serves on the Editorial Review Board of Giving USA, the seminal report on philanthropy in America.
