Ask the Experts: A Panel Discussion All About Donors

Brooke Richie-Babbage is a nonprofit growth strategist and social impact advisor. She is the Founder and CEO of Bending Arc, a strategy firm that helps high-impact nonprofits scale sustainably, and host of the Nonprofit Mastermind Podcast. Over her 20+ year career, Brooke has founded and led multiple organizations, including the Resilience Advocacy Project and the Social Justice Accelerator, and directed network initiatives at the Robert Sterling Clark Foundation. A Harvard-trained lawyer and policy expert, she has also taught nonprofit leadership and social innovation at Tufts, Brooklyn Law School, and Baruch College. Brooke lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two sons.

Nick Sollog, Founder & CEO, has been a development professional for 20 years. In 2009 he formed The Sollog Group, a consulting firm dedicated to helping nonprofit organizations raise more money in less time. The group’s practice focuses on capital campaigns, annual giving, database administration, and prospect development. Prior to consulting, Nick worked in the University of Richmond and the University of Lynchburg development offices. Born and raised in Richmond, VA, Nick graduated from the University of Lynchburg with a BA in International Relations. His advanced education includes certificates from the University of Richmond's Institute of Philanthropy in Grant Writing & Management, Fundraising & Development, and Nonprofit Marketing. Nick is involved in the local community both personally and professionally. He is an active communicant and former Vestryman at Grace & Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. Nick’s professional memberships include the VAFRE, AFP, AASP, & Apra.

In 2016, Stephanie Sample founded Fundraising for The Future to serve the nonprofit sector with grant writing, philanthropic advising, and social enterprise consulting. FFTF has raised millions of dollars for nonprofits of all sizes working to expand their impact in sectors including education, health and human services, arts and culture, environmental advocacy, animal welfare, and more. FFTF has engaged with funders to identify grant-readiness in nonprofit organizations to conduct sector-wide focus groups to determine capacity needs, clarify scholarship processes, fundraise for foundations, and establish endowments. FFTF draws on innovative perspectives, future thinking, and creative energy to personalize philanthropic advising, grant writing, and social enterprise services. Sample enjoys training nationwide on topics from fiscal sustainability to the impact of organizational culture on agency growth.