In the ten years Bob served as the VP for Advancement at Loyola Academy, he oversaw an $80 million capital campaign while maintaining or growing operational and endowment dollars totaling $130M. This included growing annual giving through unrestricted donations while securing major and planned gifts for various endowment and capital projects (e.g., fine arts facilities, aquatics center, and science labs). As a result, Loyola Academy has grown in virtually every category over the past five years (major gifts, annual giving, special events, etc.).  The combined operating expense budget of Loyola Academy’s Advancement programs exceeded $2.7 million on average and comprised sixteen employees. Bob reported to the President and the Loyola Academy Board of Trustees over his ten years at Loyola Academy.

 

Before joining Loyola Academy, Bob was the Chief Advancement Officer at the American Junior Golf Association in Atlanta and a Founder and Executive Committee member of the Gwinnett Public Schools Foundations.  In both positions, Bob was instrumental in drafting a strategic plan and implementing the programming and staffing necessary to achieve their success.

 

Bob is a Creighton Preparatory High School graduate in Omaha, Nebraska. He attended Texas Christian University (TCU) and founded his first company in 1998, Wickenburg Jeep Tours. He proudly served his country in the Georgia Army National Guard while raising four children with his wife, Jennifer. Bob is currently a resident of Evanston, Illinois.

 

Specific Qualifications

Bob serves as fundraising counsel for Marquette University High School in Milwaukee, St. Ignatius College Prep in San Francisco, and Creighton Prep School in Omaha. In addition, Bob has completed several development audits for the Midwestern Province of the Society of Jesus, reviewing the Advancement functions of the Holy Rosary Mission in Pine Ridge, South Dakota, and the St. Francis Mission in St. Francis, South Dakota. His previous work includes advising various Cristo Rey schools and being a frequent lecturer at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management for Nonprofit Executive Education, the Jesuit School Network (JSN), Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), and CASE-NAIS conferences.

 

Bob has development experience nationwide with a significant network of development professionals and their donor constituents. His work at the American Junior Golf Association and the Gwinnett County Public Schools Foundation focused on building partnerships with state and regional organizations and national and international partners.  Bob also served on the Advancement Committee of his local parish, formerly St. Joseph, in Wilmette, IL.

 

What separates us from other fundraising consulting firms?

Donor Engagement Theory: Building Authentic Engagement, at Scale.

 

R. Miller Consulting, LLC has developed and will deploy a unique software technology platform called Donor Engagement Theory (DET). DET is an easily integrated website portal that enables donors and organizations to interact and manage their respective information, thus creating an authentic online interaction.

 

Using the DET platform, a donor can view or download nearly any information saved in the portal. Examples include giving history, tax letters, invitations, acceptance letters, fundraising proposals, photos, etc. -- DET becomes a portal into their relationship with a non-profit and their data. In return, a donor can update their information or upload documents they want to share, helping the non-profit keep accurate information or provide items of interest (photos, legal documents, etc.), thus creating a meaningful two-way dialogue between the donor and the non-profit organization. This two-way engagement will help to drive engagement, raise donor satisfaction, and help to strengthen the relationship.

 

DET allows non-profits to reach and connect authentically, with constituents, at a scale that is currently very difficult to achieve using current technology. For example, using a Moves Management Portfolio scenario, DET could help you connect, update, invite, or solicit a portfolio of donors efficiently.  Done correctly, donors can choose to interact through DET in a way that drives further satisfaction and engagement.  DET will also allow you to report on and manage your staff’s ongoing constituent interactions, allowing you insight into their activities and results. Again, this level of staff insight is currently difficult to achieve using your typical fundraising software.