The Fundraising Institute Foundation was developed by Roy C. Jones, CFRE, an industry leader in relationship building, major giving, marketing and fundraising.
Roy Jones has more than 30 years of relationship building, major gift procurement and fundraising experience. He published an award winning book on major gift development called: Rainmaking – The Fundraiser’s Guide To Landing Big Gifts. He is recognized professionally as one of the top relationship managers in the country. In addition to consulting professionally with some of the nation’s top charities, Jones serves on the boards of several human service charities. He also founded his own foundation to promote training and philanthropy called the Fundraising Institute Training (FIT) Foundation to assist nonprofits nationwide. www.FundraisingInstituteTraining.com / www.RoyJones.org
Mr. Jones presently serves as Vice President of Development at Mercy Ships, an international charity providing hope and healing to the worlds forgotten poor through a fleet of surgery ships. Hospital ships are the most efficient platform to deliver state-of-the-art surgeries to regions where clean water, electricity, medical facilities and personnel is limited or nonexistent. And, because more than 50% of the world’s population lives within 100 miles of the coast, we can reach more people who need care. Jones and his development team help the organization raise more than $40 million annually. The organization provides life saving surgeries and trains medical professionals in some of the most remote and poverty stricken countries on the planet.
Roy Jones formerly served as a Development Advisor and Account Director to the largest fundraising agency in the United States, Russ Reid of Pasadena, California. Mr. Jones advised Russ Reid on major gifts and all areas of development. Russ Reid has been at the forefront of utilizing digital media and all forms of direct response to create fully integrated marketing plans. The agency raised over $2 million a day for over 200 clients including World Vision, St. Jude Children’s Cancer Research Hospital, Operation Smile and network programs serving scores of food banks, homeless shelters and rescue missions nationwide.
From 2005 to 2010 Roy Jones served as the chief development officer at America’s largest Christian school, Liberty University. Mr. Jones headed the team that provided direct mail, major giving and estate planning programs for the seven colleges in the University system. In the 1990’s Jones served as Vice President of Development at U.S.A. Direct where he oversaw fundraising programs which helped raise more than $100 million annually for several national organizations and political campaigns in Washington, D.C.
Jones began his career in the political campaign arena in the 1980’s, serving as the first director of coalitions development at the National Republican Senatorial Committee. He served on the staff of President George H. W. Bush and the 1992 Bush Presidential campaign as a coalitions specialist. In 1990, he worked internationally for a victorious presidential campaign in Guatemala and conducted training schools on voter contact and grassroots organizing for President Lech Walensa of Poland and his political party, Solidarity. He has remained active in politics as an advisor to statewide and national elections, including serving as the national finance director for U.S. Senator Rick Santorum’s Presidential Campaign.
Roy Jones holds two degrees from Liberty University, a B.S. in Political Science and a Master degree in Business Leadership. He is certified by CFRE International as a Certified Fund Raising Executive and a member of the Association of Fund Raising Professionals (AFP) and previously served on the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE).
He and his wife, Melinda, have 3 sons: Jesse (32), Nathan (30) and Grant (23). Roy and Melinda have been married for 34 years and are now the proud grandparents of (5) Jackson, Mackenzie, Madison, Ruby and Alexander. In addition, to writing and speaking on fundraising, Jones is an accomplished blues guitar player who has studied under Anthony Marinelli in Pasadena, California.
You can reach Roy by emailing him at getroyjones@gmail.com or calling him at (434) 258-4416
