Right Out Of The Gate: A Conversation with Bill TeDesco

Bill TeDesco is the founder of DonorSearch, the leading provider of fundraising intelligence solutions in the nonprofit world. Raised in Pennsylvania, he studied Landscape Architecture and then earned a Master of Public Administration from Penn State before beginning his career in technology and then moving into a key development role at the Fund for Educational Excellence and later at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. He went on to serve as Executive Vice President at Target America and CEO of WealthEngine before launching DonorSearch in 2007 to bring data, analytics, and AI into fundraising in ways that put relationships first. In this episode, we explore his journey from school days to frontline fundraising to technology leadership, the lessons he’s learned along the way, and his vision for the future of the field.

Brent Grinna is the founder and President of EverTrue, a platform reimagining how nonprofits connect with their supporters. Raised on a farm in Iowa, he went on to Brown University, where he captained the varsity football team and chaired the senior class gift campaign, before moving into the private equity and then earning his MBA at Harvard Business School. His early experiences in alumni fundraising led him to see how outdated systems held back meaningful relationships between institutions and donors. In response, he built EverTrue to bring data and digital tools into advancement work in ways that put people first. In this episode, we explore his journey from Iowa to the world of philanthropy and technology, the lessons he’s learned along the way, and his vision for the future.

David Callahan is the founder and editor of Inside Philanthropy, the leading site tracking “who’s funding what, and why,” and founder of Blue Tent, which guides progressive donors. Raised in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, he earned a B.A. from Hampshire College and a Ph.D. in Politics from Princeton. The author of nine books, including The Cheating Culture and The Givers: Wealth, Power, and Philanthropy in a New Gilded Age, Callahan has become one of the most prominent voices examining how wealth and philanthropy shape American democracy. A former think tank co-founder, he now leads journalism and media ventures that hold donors accountable and reframe the conversation on giving. In this episode, we explore his journey from politics and ethics to journalism, his critiques of philanthropy’s growing power, and what it all means for the future of democracy.

Dr. Abraham George is the founder of Shanti Bhavan and The George Foundation, dedicated to transforming the lives of India’s most disadvantaged children. A former captain in the Indian Army, he moved to the United States, earned an MBA and Ph.D. at NYU, and built a successful career in international finance before turning to philanthropy. His work at Shanti Bhavan—featured in the Netflix series Daughters of Destiny—continues to break barriers of poverty and caste, offering a new future to generations of children. In this conversation, we explore his journey from his earliest days to global leadership in social change.

In this episode, we speak with two leaders in philanthropy. Lee Ernst is Chief Executive Officer and Senior Consultant at Johnson, Grossnickle and Associates, where she leads strategic partnerships and new product development while advising nonprofit clients across education, the arts, and social services. Her career spans major institutions, including a leadership role at the University of Chicago during the institution’s $2 billion campaign, and the Salvation Army’s Chicago Division. She is a past chair of The Giving Institute’s Summer Symposium and a member of the Communications Task Force for The Generosity Commission. Ted Grossnickle serves as chair of the JGA board of directors, as managing counsel to several clients, and as a mentor to staff. He has received numerous honors and awards for his achievements, including the Henry A. Rosso Medal for Lifetime Achievement in Ethical Fundraising. He currently serves as a member and is a former chair of the Giving Institute, is counselor to The Generosity Commission, and is past board chair and current member of the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy Board of Visitors. In this conversation, we explore their careers, their shared values, and their vision for the future of philanthropy—and along the way, discover a personal connection that makes this story even more meaningful.

H. Art Taylor is the President and CEO of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, representing fundraisers who generate over $100 billion in charitable support each year. He previously led the BBB Wise Giving Alliance for 23 years, advancing nonprofit transparency and donor trust, launching the Accredited Charity Seal and GiveSafely.io, and hosting The Heart of Giving Podcast. In this conversation, we explore his life and career, beginning with his earliest days growing up in South Philadelphia.

Kay Sprinkel Grace is one of the most respected voices in global fundraising and board leadership. As the founder of Transforming Philanthropy, she has worked with over 1,000 organizations worldwide and authored seven influential books, including "Beyond Fundraising" and "The AAA Way to Fundraising Success." Her impact has been recognized with some of the sector’s highest honors, including the Henry A. Rosso Medal for lifetime achievement in ethical fundraising, the AFP Distinguished Fellow designation, and AFP’s Global Fundraising Professional of the Year award. We spoke with her about the arc of her life and work, from her earliest memories as a fifth-generation Californian to her international travels and her most personal books to date. 

Sydney Moss is a junior at Dunwoody High School in Georgia and one of two recipients of the 2025 William R. Simms Award for Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy, presented by the Association of Fundraising Professionals. Born with a rare liver disease, Sydney turned her health journey into a mission—launching Concert for a Cause while awaiting a transplant. Since then, she’s raised over $75,000 for biliary atresia research at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and recently established the Sydney Moss Fund. We spoke with her live at AFP ICON in Seattle.

Xavier “Javi” Swinarski is a junior at Gilmour Academy and one of two recipients of the 2025 William R. Simms Award for Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy, presented by the Association of Fundraising Professionals. Javi launched his annual “SOCKtober” sock drive in the fourth grade after learning that socks are the most requested item in homeless shelters. Since then, he has mobilized classmates, local organizations, and national partners to collect and distribute tens of thousands of pairs of socks, including more than 22,000 in 2024 alone. We spoke with him live at ICON, AFP’s international conference in Seattle, Washington.

Brian Marquez-Hall is a Development Officer at the Southern Scholarship Foundation and one of two recipients of the 2025 Outstanding Young Professional award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals. From launching inclusive initiatives and tripling donor gifts at Elder Care Services to raising $100,000 in just ten weeks at SSF, Brian has consistently delivered results rooted in equity, innovation, and authentic engagement. We spoke with him live at ICON, the association’s international conference in Seattle, Washington.