Richard W. McMahon

Mr. Dick McMahon joined the J.F. Smith Group in 1998, focusing on conducting feasibility study interviews, managing capital campaigns, and developing new clients for JFSG.  When McMahon’s wife of 25 years became ill with cancer, he left the Smith Group to curtail his travel. He served as development director for Fogelman College of Business and Economics at the University of Memphis and later as executive director of institutional development for Southwest Tennessee Community College. He then rejoined the Smith Group in 2004 and in 2009 transitioned into the role of senior vice president.

McMahon has gained more than 20 years of experience in fund-raising management including the successful cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of donors and effective recruitment of volunteers. He is proficient in conducting feasibility study interviews and developing positive board and alumni relations. With JFSG, McMahon has conducted more than 500 feasibility study interviews and managed multi-million dollar capital campaigns for clients in Florida, Tennessee and Mississippi. In 2007, he received the Smith Group Project Manager of the Year recognition. He also contributes to company growth by prospecting for clients in the Mid-South and on the East Coast where he has established relationships with multiple new clients for the Smith Group. Now, as senior vice president, McMahon oversees the progress of our capital campaign clients.

McMahon first heard about the J.F. Smith Group while he was working as the director of development at Evangelical Christian School in Memphis, Tennessee. ECS retained the Smith Group to conduct a feasibility study, and subsequently Jerry Smith and JFSG guided the school in a successful campaign. JFSG followed that up with a second successful campaign at ECS. 

Before taking the opportunity to become a fund-raiser, McMahon was in the corporate world as national marketing director for Sunday school publisher David C. Cook Publishing Co.  Prior to that, he was assistant vice president of marketing for Holiday Inns, Inc., and vice president of its in-house advertising agency.