All Benevon instructors and coaches have extensive experience working with nonprofit organizations. Our coaching team has been rigorously trained to customize the Benevon Model to nonprofit organizations of all sizes, types, and structures, based on the collective best practices developed from our 3,000+ alumni groups. In 2008, they collectively trained and coached their teams to raise $105 million in gifts and pledges, for an average of $200,000 per organization.

TERRY AXELROD, founder and CEO of Benevon, has more than thirty years of experience in the nonprofit field, including founding three nonprofit organizations in healthcare and affordable housing. She realized early in her career that the only path to sustainable funding was to systematically connect donors to the mission of the organization, then involve and cultivate them until they were clearly ready to give—in short, to treat donors the way you would treat a close friend or family member, someone with whom you planned to have a lifelong relationship.

Terry created the Benevon Model in 1996 after serving as Development Consultant to Zion Preparatory Academy, an inner city Christian Academy in Seattle, from 1992-1995. There she designed and implemented the fundraising and marketing programs which yielded $7.2 million in 2 ½ years as well as national recognition of the program including a cover story in the Chronicle of Philanthropy.

Author of Missionizing Your Special Events, Beyond the Ask Event, the Raising More Money Series, and The Joy of Fundraising, Terry is a sought-after speaker, both nationally and internationally. Her passion and commitment to the possibility of sustainable funding for all nonprofits drives the mission of Benevon and each of its programs. "The donors are truly out there—wanting to contribute; it's up to the organizations to connect them powerfully to their work and nurture that connection over time. Our programs give them the tools to do that successfully."

Terry currently serves as a Life Trustee of Swedish Medical Center and a Lecturer at the University of Michigan School of Social Work. She received her Masters of Social Work and Bachelor's degrees at the University of Michigan.

For a full statement about her background and the origins of Benevon, please read Terry's Story.

SHARON ERVINE came to Benevon with more than twenty years of experience in management, fundraising, and program development. Her work with human service organizations and schools in Texas has resulted in successful capital campaigns, active volunteer involvement, and effective team building.

In 2002, Sharon successfully implemented the Benevon Model as the Senior Vice President of Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston, a nonprofit organization that brings people of all faiths together in community service. Her passion for the organization and for the model transformed the manner in which staff and other supporters viewed donors and grew a significant Multiple-Year Giving Society^™.

Sharon now uses her valuable experience and insight to assist other nonprofits to build sustainable funding.

LAURA FIXLER came to Benevon in 2005, relocating from New York, after ten years of working and volunteering with various nonprofit organizations. Her dedication to being a Benevon coach comes out of her commitment to nurture and empower youth to live successful and happy lives.

Before joining Benevon, Laura worked and volunteered at youth-serving organizations in Rochester, New York, most recently at a nonprofit that treated dysfunctional families and children at risk of foster care placement and emotional trauma. Through the intervention and support provided by the organization's programs, children renewed their self-esteem and knowledge that they mattered and could make a difference in the world. She also volunteered with Leap into Literacy, a program that works with bilingual students in public elementary schools to strengthen literacy and language skills.

Working with these organizations reinforced Laura's dedication to bettering families and communities, and she feels that she can do this best by working as a Benevon coach and supporting all types of nonprofits in achieving financial sustainability so they can fulfill their missions in the world.

JULIE GOEBL joined Benevon after ten years of working and volunteering with nonprofit and public organizations in the Memphis, Tennessee area. Most recently she implemented the Benevon Model while working as the Major Gifts Officer at the Mid-South Chapter of the American Red Cross, where the team significantly increased individual giving. In addition to the money raised, hundreds of people toured their local American Red Cross Chapter and learned how they make a real difference and save people's lives everyday.

Now, as a Benevon Coach, Julie is able to empower other nonprofits to build sustainable funding programs so they can stop worrying about funding and focus on fulfilling their missions.

MARCY MCNEAL joined Benevon after fifteen years of working with nonprofit organizations in Fort Collins, Colorado. Most recently, as the founding executive director of the Poudre School District Foundation, Marcy successfully implemented the Benevon model, which resulted in positive educational opportunities for thousands of students and positioned the foundation to begin a major gifts initiative. The Benevon Model provided clear strategies for transforming the way the foundation engaged its donors, volunteers and community. Prior to that, Marcy served as executive director of a drug abuse prevention organization.

Marcy is committed to helping youth and families reach their fullest potential. Her commitment to making a difference in her own community inspired her to become a coach with Benevon so she could help many organizations achieve sustainable funding by engaging lifelong donors in their work.