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The fundraising playbook is being rewritten in real time.
In this episode of Mastering Fundraising, Tom Mitchell draws on decades of leadership in higher education advancement to confront a hard truth: many institutions are hesitating at the very moment bold leadership is required.
Tom has spent his career helping universities build strong advancement programs, develop talent, modernize strategy, and raise transformational resources in service of their communities. From campaign strategy to leadership development to innovation in data and analytics, his work has shaped institutions and influenced professionals across the country. In this conversation, he reflects on the inflection points that defined his journey and what they reveal about the future of fundraising.
Together, we explore:
• The Great Hesitation and why leaders are stuck between stability and change
• The five inflection points that shaped Tom’s philosophy on leadership, talent, data, and AI
• Why most advancement models are optimized for incremental growth, not exponential impact
• The future advancement officer and the competencies that will matter most
• Radical connectivity and the idea that donors give through institutions, not to them
• Expanding beyond treasure to the Five T’s: time, talent, treasure, ties, and testimony
• What higher education must do now to prepare for multi generational shifts in donor behavior
If you lead advancement, development, alumni engagement, or philanthropy strategy, this episode challenges assumptions and invites you to think bigger.
The question is not whether fundraising will change. It is whether we are ready to lead that change.
Listen now and join the conversation shaping the future of our profession.
