Fund Raising Advantage - We help nonprofits strengthen donor loyalty, enhance board dedication, and expand community commitment.

Gail Meltzer has been a senior development officer in the nonprofit arena for 25 years. President of Fund Raising Advantage, Inc. and founding partner in CoreStrategies for Nonprofits, Inc., she began her career at Baptist Medical Center in Jacksonville, Florida. She also served as the first development director for that city's Museum of Science and History. During her career, Gail has created and implemented comprehensive fund development programs for several other organizations, including a nursing home, private day school and community mental health center.

Gail and her professional team are proficient and experienced in all areas of fund development, including annual, capital and endowment campaigns; foundation development; planned giving; galas and special events; direction and planning for volunteer auxiliaries; and public relations and marketing plans to support development activities, particularly in preparation for major campaigns. Gail's special areas of interest and expertise are board development and education with regard to fund raising responsibilities, development audits and plans, and creating and sustaining major gifts programs.

An active member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) since 1984, Gail has been a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) since 1990. She has held several leadership positions in the organization as well as the National Committee on Planned Giving (NCPG). She was the founding president of the Jacksonville Chapter of AFP. Gail is a member of Class XIX of Leadership Broward and of the 1987 class of Leadership Jacksonville. She has a B.A. from Rutgers University and extensive continuing education in all areas of fund raising.

Gail has facilitated numerous workshops and seminars on topics including: the basics of fund development; cultivating donor loyalty; leveraging successful special events; major gifts programs that work; preparing for annual, capital or endowment campaigns; women and philanthropy; the role of the board in fund development; the role of public relations and marketing in fund development; using gift clubs to enhance sustainable income; assessing your development program; starting and managing a planned giving program for the small shop.

A Florida resident for the past 30 years, Gail has also lived, worked and studied in New Jersey, Alabama, California, Texas and Paris, France. She currently serves on the boards of the AFP Ft. Lauderdale/Broward Chapter and the Old Dillard Foundation. Gail is the 2004 winner of the Women in Communications Atlantic-Florida Chapter "Woman of the Year Award" in the Fund Development and Special Events category. When not working or volunteering, she can be found in class practicing her skills to achieve her goal of earning a black belt in Kenpo karate and kickboxing by 2005.

James Mueller is a seasoned professional with nearly 30 years of experience in organizational leadership and fund development for not-for-profit organizations. During his career, Jim has provided strategic and creative leadership to a variety of institutions, including Advocate Health Care, Cornell University, Goodwill Industries, the Lake Forest Graduate School of Management, the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition, and Northwestern University. Additionally, he served as COO for the international consulting firm Grenzebach Glier & Associates, where some of the largest nonprofit organizations in the US, Canada, and the UK seek counsel on strategic philanthropy initiatives.

Jim brings a high level of professionalism and passion, along with expertise, to not-for-profit organizations. His first assignment at Cornell University was Associate Director for Alumni Class Affairs, which included oversight of annual Reunion and Homecoming. Jim went on to serve as Director of Cornell's Midwest Office, which he reopened and rebuilt during his tenure. At Northwestern University, Jim successfully completed a $34M endowment campaign, while also serving as Director of Development for the College of Arts and Sciences.

As vice president for the bioethics center at Advocate Health, Jim created the department of Development, Communications, and Public Affairs, and managed a successful fundraising campaign. As Vice President of Enterprise Advancement at Lake Forest Graduate School of Management, Jim worked closely with the President to re-position the School among its alumni and within the community. He organized and led the strategic planning process and developed vision- and mission-based strategic funding initiatives.

Jim has led organizations of all sizes through capital campaigns, board development, internal staffing reorganizations, and strategic planning-in each case maintaining a particular focus on achieving outcomes consistent with the organization's unique mission, values, and objectives. He is a graduate of Cornell University and has a Master of Theological Studies. Currently, Jim serves on the Board of the National Family Caregivers Association, and is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.