Speakers

Amanda Sattler, CFRE, is a non-profit consultant and Doctoral Candidate in Philanthropic Leadership with over 20 years of experience leading high-performing fundraising teams. She lives at the intersection of hands-on fundraising and research-based strategy, helping organizations strike a balance between urgent needs and long-term sustainability. Her doctoral research focuses on why fundraising leaders experience burnout—and how to prevent it. Having navigated both seasons of scarcity and abundance, Amanda brings practical tools, hard-earned lessons, and authentic vulnerability to her work. She is passionate about equipping non-profits to steward both leaders and resources sustainably, so missions don’t just survive, but thrive.

Bringing nearly 25 years of experience, Sally and Uncorked Advocates provide federal government relations services to some of the largest nonprofits and philanthropic associations in the country.

Previously, Sally represented more than 500 nonprofits and foundations as Independent Sector's Government Relations Director, served as Washington advocate for Girl Scouts of the USA, and worked on Capitol Hill for former Rep. Louise Slaughter as Legislative Director and Chief of Staff. She was named by The Hill as a Top Lobbyist for 2021, 2022, and 2023 and as Top 100 Lobbyist in 2022 by The National Institute for Lobbying & Ethics.

Anna Schlia is the founder of Brightside Philanthropy, a strategic consulting firm helping nonprofits raise more by doing less. With deep experience in higher education and community-based fundraising, Anna has led campaigns, secured transformational gifts, and trained fundraisers across the country. She is a trusted advisor to executive directors, boards, and advancement teams, known for translating research into practical strategy. A frequent speaker for AFP chapters and national conferences, Anna is also a PhD student at the University of Rochester studying philanthropic studies. Her work blends academic rigor with real-world insight to build sustainable, donor-centered fundraising programs.

Patrick Schmitt is co-CEO of FreeWill, which he and fellow FreeWill co-CEO Jenny Xia founded at Stanford
University’s Graduate School of Business in 2016. FreeWill’s charitable giving platform makes it easier for
nonprofit fundraising teams to unlock transformational gifts, and to date, has generated over $13.6 billion
in new gift commitments for thousands of nonprofit organizations. In 2024, FreeWill acquired Grant
Assistant to further its mission of helping nonprofits secure more funding by streamlining the grant
discovery and proposal process. Patrick hosts FreeWill’s popular webinar series, educating thousands of
nonprofit fundraising professionals each month about planned and non-cash giving strategies.

Martha H. Schumacher, CFRE, ACFRE, MInstF is an avid active listener; and philanthropy ambassador, educator, coach, mentor, author, and champion. She is President of Hazen Consulting and the Hazen Institute for Leadership Training (HILT), creating global strategies to elevate social impact and philanthropy.

Martha is a founding member of International Women in Fundraising (IWF) and a Global Advisor to the IWF Purple Mindshift Program. She also serves on the International Rhino Foundation Advisory Board and Development Committee. Martha lives with her husband Casey and their sweet yet energetic rescue dogs Gage and Josie.

Adrian Scott serves as Vice President for University Advancement and Executive Director of the SSU Foundation at Savannah State University. He brings nearly two decades of experience leading advancement operations at HBCUs, including the United Way, Allen University, Claflin University, and Stillman College. Known for building high-performing teams, Scott has increased annual and endowed scholarship support, strengthened corporate partnerships, and enhanced alumni engagement. At SSU, he leads fundraising and alumni affairs during a pivotal time of institutional growth. His strategic leadership is helping to shape a student-centered advancement plan focused on long-term sustainability and innovation.

Dr. Angela Seaworth has 25+ years of experience in the nonprofit sector as a professional fundraiser, professor, and running her consulting firm. She developed fundraising, governance, and strategy as areas of functional expertise and has devoted her career to advancing the field through nonprofit education and capacity building. She founded the Rice University Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership, has served on the ACFRE International Credentialing Committee, the AFP Research Council, and the Fundraising Effectiveness Project. Seaworth earned her Ph.D. in Philanthropic Studies at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and her MBA from the University of Chicago.

Dr. Genevieve Shaker is the Donald A. Campbell Chair in Fundraising Leadership at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and a faculty member of The Fund Raising School. Two decades of fundraising experience inform her approach as a teacher, researcher, writer, and community member. She works to build resources for the fundraising profession and to help individuals and organizations achieve their philanthropic goals. Dr. Shaker is a member of the AFP Research Council and a recipient of the AFP Skystone Partners Prize for Research.

Jim Shapiro is a veteran fundraising and nonprofit strategy consultant with over 30 years of experience. He founded his first consulting firm, The EDGE Group, in 2003, and later co-founded The Better Fundraising Co. in 2013. Jim has directly helped hundreds of nonprofits across the U.S., Canada, and Europe, guiding organizations to raise over $500 million in capital funding. His expertise spans board development, governance, strategic planning, branding, and communication. A former VP of Development for a $100M nonprofit, Jim is known for delivering clear, actionable guidance that helps organizations grow with purpose and impact.

Amber Sheikh is CEO and owner at Sheikh/Impact, helping California nonprofits maximize community impact through fundraising, external relations, and organizational development. A CFRE with deep expertise in capital campaigns and strategic planning, Amber has two decades of experience in providing both strategic consulting and in-house fundraising for diverse organizations working to solve our communities greatest challenges. This proud Angeleno serves on multiple commissions including LA Harbor Area Planning and LAHSA, and has received recognition as a City of LA Woman of the Year and LA Impact Maker to Watch.

Azha Simmons is a nonprofit professional with over a decade of experience in development, marketing, and community engagement. She is the Individual Giving Manager at Sunnyvale Community Services and serves on the boards of AFP Silicon Valley and the Western Association of Museums. A San Jose native, Azha holds an M.A. and M.B.A. in Museum Studies and Business Administration from John F. Kennedy University. Her work has been published in *Emerging Professionals Magazine* and *Theory & Practice*, and she has led panels on equity in the field. Azha is passionate about using fundraising to drive community-centered change.

Meredith Slater is a fundraising guru with a passion for global justice. As ActionAid's Philanthropy & Partnerships Lead, she heads up global fundraising from trusts, foundations, and major donors, while also running US fundraising operations. She began her career at World Food Program USA and went on to drive impact through grant writing at Henry Street Settlement, organizing at Change.org, and development leadership at NYU. Meredith holds an M.A. in Food Studies from NYU and a B.A. in International Affairs and Spanish from GW University. Based in Denver, she enjoys hiking, gardening, beekeeping, and chasing after her two young boys.

I’m a strategist, storyteller, and connector. I’m passionate about helping organizations grow by building meaningful relationships, crafting clear strategies, and bringing bold ideas to life. My career started in consumer intelligence, analytics, and digital marketing. Over the past 15+ years, I’ve had the opportunity to
lead initiatives for global brands, innovative nonprofits, and startups alike. At NextAfter I focus on amplifying our mission, deepening our client and partner relationships, and helping us grow in both purpose and performance. I lead our Growth Team, share our knowledge with as many leaders as possible, and support our team’s mission to unleash generosity.

Meghan Snare is Senior Vice President of Product at Momentive Software, leading global product and
design teams to deliver innovative, customer-focused solutions for nonprofits and associations. She
specializes in shaping strategies that advance customer impact and long-term growth.

Mike Snusz brings 22 years of experience in nonprofit marketing and fundraising, having worked as both a digital consultant at technology firms and a fundraiser at a nonprofit organization. He is a regular contributor to NonProfit PRO, writing a quarterly column (https://www.nonprofitpro.com/author/mikesnusz/). Mike is a past presenter at Bridge, Donor Experience Summit (DXS), BBCON, and Collab, and for the past six years, he has led AFP’s national webinar on The State of Mobile and Online Fundraising (https://afpglobal.org/webinars/afp-webinar-state-mobile-and-online-fund…). In his current role, Mike partners with nonprofits to launch and grow their text messaging programs, helping them boost donor engagement and fundraising.