Meet Marc, Fundraising Expert & Board and Leadership Development Coach
An international leadership development coach and fundraising trainer, Marc A. Pitman, CSP® helps nonprofit board members and staff get excited about asking for money. He is the founder of The Concord Leadership Group and of FundraisingCoach.com – recognized by The Atlantic as “1 of 5 Philanthropic blogs fundraisers need to read.” His latest book is The Surprising Gift of Doubt: Use Uncertainty to Become the Exceptional Leader You Are Meant to Be. He is also the author of Ask Without Fear!®, the executive director of the affordable fundraising training program The Nonprofit Academy, an Exactly What To Say Certified Guide, and a former Advisory Panel member of Rogare, a prestigious international fundraising think tank.
Because of his dynamic trainings, Marc speaks to thousands each year at events like the World Fundraising Summit in Mexico, trainings in New Zealand, Association for Fundraising Professionals International Conference, and the International Bowling Expo. His experience in nonprofit fundraising and leadership training in person and online, as well as his balanced commentary, has caused him to be featured in books and articles around the world and be sought out as a guest on TV, radio, and print as diverse as The Chronicle of Philanthropy, Real Simple, SUCCESS Magazine, Al Jazeera, and Fox News.
With a passion that’s made people call him the “Johnny Appleseed of fundraising,” Marc believes fundraising is all about leadership. Fundraising affects everything from mission and vision to board governance to HR to marketing and community relations. So he is committed to making it ridiculously easy for everyone – board members, volunteers, and nonprofit staff – to get fundraising training. Ask Without Fear! has been translated into Dutch, Polish, Spanish, and Chinese. And he continues to write books, create online fundraising trainings, and offer ICF-accredited leadership development coach certification.
He is the husband of his best friend and the father of three amazing kids. And if you see him drive by, he’ll probably be singing 80’s tunes loud enough to embarrass his family.
Some of Marc’s Books
Memberships & Affiliations
"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. Follow Marc's blog, read his book, hear him speak, collaborate with him on a project, order his new video for your board - whatever you can do to bring more Marc A. Pitman and that iconic red bowtie into your organization. It will be an investment with dividends that will continue to grow throughout a lifetime."
Education & Affiliations
- MA in Organizational Leadership, School of Leadership Studies, Regent University
- CSP, Certified Speaking Professional, National Speakers Association
- Certified Franklin Covey Coach, Franklin Covey Coaching
- Certified Highlands Abilities Battery Provider, The Highlands Company
- Biblical Studies, Jerusalem University College
- BA in History and Religion, Gordon College (MA)
- Diploma, Milton Academy (MA)
- Advisory Panel Member for Rogare: The Fundraising Think Tank of the Centre for Sustainable Philanthropy at Plymouth University
- Fundraising Expert for Blackbaud’s K-12 Division
- Board of Advisors for Pennybridge
- Global Fundraising Advisor for Twestival
- Instructor, University of Southern Maine Professional & Continuing Education
- Adjunct Instructor for “MK337: Marketing on the Internet” at Thomas College
- General Assembly Member of the Kennebec Regional Development Authority
- Member, International Coach Federation
- Member, International Enneagram Association
- Founding Member, International Association of Coaches
- Former Secretary of the Board, United Way of Mid-Maine
- Former VP for Networking & Outreach, New England Association of Healthcare Philanthropy
- Former Treasurer on the Board of Directors for the Advancement Program Council
- Former Trustee for the Lewiston Public Library
- Former Chair, Club Administration, Waterville Rotary Club
The Jewish National Fund of Canada
American College of Surgeons’ Leadership & Advocacy Summit
The Maine Public Broadcasting System
The Joint Commission’s Center for Transforming Healthcare
Georgetown University
KLOVE-AIR1 Radio
Islamic Relief USA
the World Fundraising Forum in Monterrey, Mexico
NCDC Leadership Summit
National Catholic Development Conference (multiple years)
Tov V’Hesed
Sharut Ha’Din
BlogWorld Expo
In Defense of Animals
Habitat for Humanity International
Israel Air Force Center Foundation’s Leadership Retreat
Special Olympics South Carolina (multiple years)
The Tonic Conference in New Zealand
The American Subcontractors Association
Catholic Charities USA
University of Southern Maine Development Symposium
Community Health Plan of Seattle
Indiana Grantmakers Alliance
Utah Society for Fund Raisers
PodCamp Boston 5
Association of Fundraising Professionals
Association of Fundraising Professionals – New Jersey
Association of Fundraising Professionals – San Antonio
Association of Fundraising Professionals Summer Institute – Charleston, SC
American Marketing Association’s Nonprofit Marketing Conference
American Marketing Association – Puget Sound
Oral Roberts University
Kansas Main Street (Kansas Department of Commerce)
Pacific Northwest Association of Independent Schools
Alabama Spay/Neuter Clinic
Maine’s Blaine House Conference on Volunteerism
Maine Library Association
Waterville Public Library
Border’s Bookstore – Bangor
Autism Society of Maine
Central Maine Community College
New England Association of Healthcare Philanthropy (multiple years)
Blackbaud’s Conference for Nonprofits (multiple years)
Blackbaud’s Canadian Conference for Nonprofits
Advancement Program Council (multiple years)
CASE/NAIS Independent Schools Conference