Jerry F. Smith, CFRE*

Education:
B.A., Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama
M.S., Livingston University, Livingston, Alabama

Author, lecturer, teacher and fund-raising consultant Jerry F. Smith founded the J.F. Smith Group in 1991.

Following a successful development career as Executive Director of Alumni and Development at Auburn University (including a $110 million dollar capital campaign, ending in 1985), Smith was asked to speak to the board of a large Christian school in Birmingham, to offer advice with regard to a possible capital campaign. At the end of the Board meeting, Smith was asked if he would take the job.

Since then, the J.F. Smith Group has conducted feasibility studies and capital campaigns for clients all across the country - from Edmond, Oklahoma to Washington, D.C. and from Chicago, Illinois to Miami, Florida. Significantly, the company has conducted two and three campaigns for many of these same clients.

Mr. Smith is a popular and respected convention presenter. He has conducted seminars on an assortment of fund-raising topics both here in the United States, for the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, Association of Christian Schools International, Blackbaud, Association of Fundraising Professionals, National Association of Athletics Development Directors, Association for Healthcare Professionals and in Germany for the Catholic Fundraising Institute. He has taught fund-raising courses at Troy University and is also the recipient of the 2000 NSFRE Award for Civic Philanthropy.

* The CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Executive) designation is held by candidates who must pass a written examination testing the knowledge, skills, and abilities required of a fund-raising executive. Only 4,127 professionals around the world hold this designation.