Meet Marc, Fundraising Expert & Board and Leadership Development Coach
He is the founder of FundraisingCoach.com, ranked the #3 fundraising blog out of 100 by Feedspot in 2026, and hailed by The Atlantic as one of five philanthropic blogs fundraisers need to read.
Marc has trained and inspired over 27,000 nonprofit leaders across North America, Europe, Mexico, and New Zealand. He has personally coached hundreds of executive directors, development staff, and board chairs through economic downturns, leadership transitions, board crises, and global disruptions — including the 2008 recession and the COVID-19 pandemic. His practical, energizing style has made him a go-to resource for boards who want fundraising to feel less like begging and more like building meaningful partnerships.
For organizations in a capital campaign, Marc brings something rare: he has served as a leader, manager, or consultant on 25 campaigns — ranging from $100,000 to $1 billion, in both rural and urban settings — and has pioneered a capital campaign coaching model that has helped campaigns from $1 million to $140 million find their footing and reach their goals.
He is the author of the best-selling Ask Without Fear!®, translated into Dutch, Polish, Spanish, and Mandarin, and The Surprising Gift of Doubt, which helps leaders harness uncertainty as a tool for growth. His expertise has been featured in Success magazine, Real Simple, and The Chronicle of Philanthropy, and on NBC, Fox News, and Al Jazeera.
Known by many as the “Johnny Appleseed of fundraising,” Marc combines humor, deep nonprofit knowledge, and a contagious enthusiasm for a mission. He also serves as Executive Director of The Nonprofit Academy, offering affordable CFRE-accredited training to nonprofit professionals worldwide.
Marc lives in South Carolina with his wife. He’s the proud dad of three grown kids and an enthusiastic home brewer.
Some of Marc’s Books
"If you ever have the opportunity to sit in the audience and learn from Marc, you should do whatever you can to get a seat at that table. I can say, without a doubt, his wisdom and simple to follow strategies have been instrumental in helping my organization honor its mission. Marc's presence as the keynote speaker was the leveraging chip I used to convince my boss that I should attend a conference and it was worth it - times a million. Whatever you can do to bring more Marc to your organization, it will be an investment with dividends that will continue to grow throughout a lifetime."
Education & Affiliations
- CSP, Certified Speaking Professional — National Speakers Association
- Exactly What to Say® Certified Guide
- Certified Franklin Covey Coach
- Certified Highlands Abilities Battery Provider
- MA in Organizational Leadership, Regent University
- Member, International Coach Federation
- Past President, ICF South Carolina Chapter
- Advisory Panel Member, Rogare: The Fundraising Think Tank, Plymouth University
