James has been involved in development for 24 years. In his current position, he is solely responsible for all areas of development including major gifts, annual giving, special events, grant writing, planned giving, and donor advised funds. Previously, as Executive Director at Housing California, James was responsible for developing sponsorships for California's state conference on affordable housing and homeless services, and developing other financial resources to support the organization's programs and operations. Before that, he worked as Director of Development at Shelter, Inc. where he was responsible for annual giving, grants, major gifts and special events. James currently serves as a volunteer for the Community Based Employment Collaborative, and the Richmond Museum of History. He earned BA in Anthropology from Grinnell College and a MA in Anthropology from University of Minnesota. He is a member of the National Council on Planned Giving and Northern California Grantmakers.

Chris has been involved in development for eight years. As the sole development person in a mid-sized museum, Chris handles all grant writing, the annual fund and individual donor solicitation. She manages a grant portfolio over $400,000 that has increased in diversity by 35 percent. As a member of a small staff, Chris must exercise flexibility and ease of juggling a wide variety of responsibilities. For instance, she is also the museum's techie, web master and caterer for receptions. Previously, as Marketing Communications Writer at the Volunteer Center of San Mateo County, Chris wrote all press releases, annual reports, newspaper articles and brochures. Chris currently serves on the Los Altos Community Foundation grant committee. She earned a Masters in Agricultural Economics from Texas A&M and a BS from UC Davis. She is a member of American Association of Museums.

Helen M.Z. Harwood has been involved in development for over nine years. Currently, as Director of Development and Director of Alumnae for Sisters of the Presentation, San Francisco, she has exceeded previous fundraising goals by consistently raising over one million dollars annually in a one-person development office on a shoestring budget. Her responsibilities include 13 events in different geographic California locations a year, five annual publications, individual and major gifts, planned giving, grants and corporate sponsorships. Helen also now works for the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and has previously worked for Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, The Whitney Museum of American Art, and as the Executive Director and Curator of Helen M.Z. Cevern's World Gallery, Inc., Miami Beach, received a business award from the City of Miami Beach, and concurrently as the Executive Director and Curator of Helen M.Z. Harwood Gallery in NYC, was consistently featured in national and international publications. Helen has lectured and mentored nonprofits on promoting the arts, fundraising strategies and methods. She earned a BFA in Fine Arts from Parsons School of Design.

Deborah has been involved in fundraising for 10 years. In her current position, she is responsible for assisting clients with development activities such as grant writing, fundraising, as well as strategic and business planning. She specializes in helping small to mid-sized nonprofits maximize their fundraising efforts through the use of planning tools and exercises designed to put the right effort into the right activities. Previously, as Executive Director/Development Director at Palomar College Foundation, Deborah was responsible for directing and planning a comprehensive advancement program among alumni, the community, corporate donors, and individual friends of the College. Before that, she worked as Development Director at Casa de Amparo where she was responsible for all fundraising activities and development operations. She wrote and implemented first organizational comprehensive long-range development plan increasing donation levels from $749K to $971 K. She earned BA in Marketing from Southwestern College and a Certificate in Fundraising from University of San Diego. She is a member of AFP, North County Philanthropy Council. Ms. Stanley is a CFRE, Certified Fundraising Executive.