Mission
We empower nonprofit organizations to advance their missions through significant and growing philanthropic support.
Vision
We ensure that each and every one of our clients has a bold, inspirational vision and the right tools to help them exceed their goals.
How We Operate
We do not specialize in one aspect or another of strategic revenue generation. We customize our approaches to address each and every clients’ unique needs. Listening, customizing, problem solving and coaching to success is our core value.
When we learned that the Nelson Mandela Childrens Fund needed to learn where their best sources of philanthropy would come from to build a new Johannesburg Children's Hospital, we did a global feasibility study.
When we learned that the Pro Football Hall of Fame needed a new, more ambitious and global strategic plan, we delivered it.
When we learned that The Chesapeake Bay Foundation needed staff training and a campaign plan, we delivered.
When we learned that Renown Health Foundation needed a campaign plan, board development and staff coaching, even in the midst of leadership change, we delivered.
When we learned that The Festival Center in Washington, DC had been advised by other consulting firms not to attempt a capital campaign because they did not fit their model for campaign experience, qualified prospects and an traditional case for support, our firm conducted a feasibility study and then fashioned a capital campaign plan for the Center to raise $4 million, along the way coaching them to close some significant starter pledges.
In Spring 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic hit, The Field School was in the midst of a search for a new Head of School and a new Chief Development Officer. In addition, they were trying to raise funds to offset the extra expense of shifting to remote learning and a predicted enrollment shortfall in 2021. Our firm stepped in to prepare an end of fiscal year fundraising initiative that, with board leadership training, met the urgent needs for cash now.
The Perkiomen School, a boarding school in eastern Pennsylvania, has undergone a radical transformation under the inspired leadership of its Head of School and Director of Development. With our counsel and partnership with the Perkiomen team, The Our Time to Lead Campaign plan to raise $30 million is ahead of schedule and is providing cash and pledges for capital, academic and faculty development.
The variety of our clients, which includes global NGO's, nationally known non-profits, sports teams, seminaries, trade association foundations, independent schools and more attests to our agility, our ability to solve real life problems in real time and to encourage the visionary thinking and planning in which philanthropists will want to invest.
How do we do this so well? In a word, experience. We have led fundraising growth and fundraising campaigns for some of the world's most prestigious institutions. We have been at the table when momentous organizational management decisions have been made. We have contributed, listened and learned. And every bit of this learning over decades of successful careers is available to you.
Who We Are
President & ceo
John Thomas
John traces his fundraising career to his days as a South Bronx Methodist minister when the collection plates were returned until they were full. He raised funds for community-based organizations he founded or headed until joining the University of Miami Office of Development. There John became known for closing numerous million dollar gifts for the university. John’s career progressed through University of Pennsylvania Medical Development and New England Medical Center. He gained national and international recognition as keynoter, trainer and presenter on big trends in philanthropy. John ultimately joined Elizabeth Dole as Senior Vice President for Development at the American Red Cross when she was President. Recruited to head Children’s Hospital Foundation in DC in 1995, John planned and implemented $300 and $500 million comprehensive fundraising campaigns that elevated Children’s National Medical Center to international clinical and philanthropic prominence.
Since 2008, John has been President & CEO of John Wm. Thomas Consulting LLC, a full-service fundraising and consulting firm based in Lexington, VA. His firm has coached, trained, planned and encouraged substantial philanthropic revenue improvements for a wide variety of clients.
John is Past Board Chair of Breast Care for Washington and is currently Secretary of The Boat Company Board of Directors and a member of the Board of Directors of Rockbridge Area Hospice. He is active in community, church and civic affairs in Lexington while still finding time for family, friends, competitive trail running, skiing and water sports.
Contact
Executive vice president
Valerie Thomas
After a brief early career greeting passengers and parking airplanes for Air Florida, Valerie’s career in direct marketing took off when she joined Walter Karl Fundraising, the pioneer of direct response fundraising.
During her career in fundraising which has spanned more than 30 years, Valerie has partnered with nonprofit organizations, large and small, to help fulfill their missions using proven methods to grow donor bases, maximize performance and steward donors through the continuum of entry level gifts to mid and major giving.
Valerie has worked with direct marketing firms providing her clients with turn-key marketing services as well as with large companies such as International Masters Publishers and Time Life.
Included among the many organizations Valerie has worked with are Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, League of Women Voters, March of Dimes, Motley Fool, The Wilderness Society, Thomas Jefferson Foundation, World Wildlife Fund, Hospice of the Chesapeake and Breast Care for Washington.
Valerie has also been an active volunteer with schools and community organizations and served on the Board of The American Horticultural Society. She currently serves on the Board of Yellow Brick Road Early Learning Center in Lexington, VA.