Our Team

As the world’s leading resource for annual giving programs, AGN helps educational institutions develop sustainable sources of philanthropic support. We’re proud to have served thousands of colleges, universities and independent schools through our research, training, and consulting services, and through our membership program, which provides ongoing access to professional development.


 

Dan Allenby | Principal & Founder

Dan is an author, speaker, and consultant who has worked with educational institutions for more than 25 years to improve their fundraising results. An internationally recognized expert on annual giving, he is a CASE Laureate and recipient of the prestigious Crystal Apple Award for Teaching Excellence. His book Ideas for Annual Giving offers designs for helping organizations increase their levels of sustainable philanthropic support.

Dan has led annual giving and membership programs at Boston University, Tufts University, Georgetown University, and the National Geographic Society. He also served on the faculty for CASE’s Summer Institute in Educational Fundraising and chaired its Senior Annual Giving Professionals Conference and Annual Giving Workshop for five collective terms. He holds a B.A. in History from James Madison University and a M.B.A. from Boston College. Connect with Dan on LinkedIn


 

Jennifer Fillare | Director of Member Relations

Jennifer oversees AGN’s membership and marketing programs. Her experience includes work in project management, event planning, and administration at a variety of organizations within the education, finance, technology, and construction industries. She holds a B.M. in Vocal Performance from Stetson University and an M.M. in Opera Performance from Queens College.


 

 

Kathy Sargent | Director of Operations & Program Development

Kathy oversees the planning and production of AGN’s programs and events as well as managing business operations. Her experience includes work in business development, operations, and marketing in the finance and music production industries. She holds a B.A. in French and an MBA from Boston College and a Certificate in Digital Marketing from the Yale School of Management Executive Education.


 

 

Melinda Phillips | Consultant & Senior Faculty

Melinda has over 15 years of experience in annual giving and educational fundraising. She most recently served as Assistant Vice Chancellor of Annual Giving at Vanderbilt University and previously led programs at its Owen Graduate School of Management. Her other experience includes work with the Annual Giving Directors Consortium and the Rhodes College Alumni Board. She holds a B.A. from Rhodes College and an M.T.S. from Harvard Divinity School.


 

 

Adam Bradley | Senior Faculty

Adam has over 10 years of experience in annual giving and educational fundraising. He currently serves as Senior Director Of Annual Giving at the University of Michigan, and has previously led research and recruiting efforts at Qualigence International. He holds a B.B.A. in Marketing and a certificate in strategic leadership from the University of Michigan.

 


 

Gina Fiorillo | Senior Faculty

Gina has over 20 years of experience in annual giving and educational fundraising. She currently serves as Senior Director, Annual Giving & Stakeholder Engagement at Rutgers University Foundation, and has previously led programs at Kean University, and Douglass College. She holds a B.A. in English from Douglass College and an M.P.A. from the School of Public Affairs & Administration at Rutgers University.


 

 

Gloria Goosby | Senior Faculty

Gloria has over 15 years of experience in annual giving and educational fundraising. She currently serves as Director of Annual Giving at Furman University, and has previously led programs at Georgia Southern University. Her other experience includes work with the Southeast Annual Giving Conference Committee and the Statesboro-Bulloch County Chamber of Commerce. She holds a B.S. in Broadcasting from Georgia Southern University.


 

 

Meredith Johnston | Senior Faculty

Meredith has over 20 years of experience in annual giving and educational fundraising. She currently serves as Vice President of Philanthropy at Scripps Research, and has previously led programs at UC Riverside, UC San Diego, and Oklahoma State University. Her other experience includes leading teams through change, developing and leading comprehensive campaigns, and building strong teams while nurturing talent. She holds a B.A. in Literature from the University of North Texas.


 

 

Christy Moss | Senior Faculty

Christy has over 15 years of experience in annual giving and educational fundraising. She currently serves as Vice President of Membership and Marketing at University of Illinois Alumni Association, and has additional experience working at Greenville University, USEED, and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. She holds a B.A. in Communication from Greenville University and an M.S. in Information Science from the University of Illinois.


 

 

Mae Parker | Senior Faculty

Mae has more than 15 years of experience in annual giving and educational fundraising. She currently serves as Director of Annual Giving at Grinnell College and has previously led various programs at Earlham College. Mae holds a B.A. in Business and Nonprofit Management from Earlham College and an M.A. in Executive Development for Public Service from Ball State University. She also received a Certificate in Fundraising Management from The Fund Raising School at Indiana University.


 

 

Mary Risner | Senior Faculty

Mary has more than 20 years of experience in annual giving and educational fundraising. She currently serves as Chief Development Officer at Westover School, Middlebury CT, and has previously led programs at Brown University, University of Pennsylvania, and Franklin & Marshall College. She holds a Graduate Certificate in Leading and Managing through Change, as well as a B.S. in Business Economics from Bloomsburg University and an M.S. in Organizational Dynamics from the University of Pennsylvania.


 

For more information, please email us at [email protected] or call 888.407.5064.