Marketing and Fundraising Experience
As your fractional CMO or fractional Chief Development Officer, I put my experience and expertise to work helping you make a valuable difference in your organization and the world. Through a unique mosaic of experiences I have developed an approach that balances a nonprofit ED and CDO’s understanding of the unique demands of NPOs with a corporate executive’s time-tested strategic vision, an entrepreneur’s bias for action and agency-side creative leaps with a business-owner’s bottom line analysis and pragmatism. All of it grounded in my personal passion and mission to do work that makes a positive impact in the world.
I am a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and I abide by the AFP’s Code of Ethical Standards in all fundraising and marketing activities for nonprofit clients. I am also a member of the Association of Nonprofit Specialists in New York.
I started my career learning the foundations of category management and consumer/shopper marketing from one of the best – Gallo. I left there to be part of the marketing team at Benziger Family Winery where we revolutionized the way Americans make and drink wine while building a brand from launch to the 3rd largest in the world. That experience sparked my entrepreneurial fire while also introducing me to sustainable agriculture and progressive stakeholder management practices, becoming the guiding principles of my work.
Since those early years of my career I have split my time between nonprofit and for-profit/social enterprise work, blending experiences and expertise that keeps me on the cutting edge of data-driven and consumer-first marketing that is measurable and high-impact.
Some career highlights include:
- Raised more than $200 million developing annual, recurring, capital and comprehensive fundraising, membership and advocacy campaigns for more than 15 nonprofits from major global organizations to smaller local and regional NPOs.
- Founder and CMO of two sustainably run, social enterprise for-profit companies, one based on the international importation of FairTrade, Organic and indigenous-owned wines, the other a 1% for the Planet company.
- Co-Founder, Head of Programs and Fundraising for a nonprofit that implemented sustainable food garden programs and management training in a small Zulu village, leading to the program being taken over by a local women-led committee within our five year goal. We reached our five-year fundraising goal within two years.
- Founder and manager of one of the first digital marketing agencies in America; builder one of the first analytics departments.
- Co-author the IAB and ARF’s “Online Playbook,” defining modern attribution models, including the first ROMI model for omni-channel brand and acquisition marketing.
- Developer of the first integrated Business Strategy and Brand Planning department at global digital agency, Razorfish.
- Digital agency lead for Kraft’s “Organizing for Growth” transformation of integrated marketing and planning process.
- A marketing executive leader for one of the most successful new Fortune 50 brand launches at ING.
- Creator of more than 250 high-impact strategic plans and campaigns for dozens of for-profit, nonprofit, and sustainably run companies.
- Awarded two EFFIEs for marketing effectiveness, as well as awards honoring creative excellence in campaigns including Telly, Webby, Shorty, London International, ONE Show and several others.
- Member of DEI Allyship Council.
- Leader in Conscious Capitalism
- Mentor and guest lecturer, Emory University, Goizueta MBA Sustainable Enterprise Program
Brands
Nonprofit brands: Community Servings, Project Open Hand, Cool Girls, Isipho, CARE, Last Prisoner Project, Trees Atlanta, Save The Bay, Riverkeepers, Dining Out For Life, Hudson River Community Sailing, Full Radius Dance, debra.org and others.
Social and sustainable brands: Benziger Family Winery, Worthwhile Wine, Westwood Organic Estate, Muratie Estate, Ecologica Winery, Valle Perdido Estate, and more than a dozen other imported and domestic wine brands.
For-profit brands: Mentos, Kraft Foods, Coca-Cola, Airheads, Burt’s Bees, Sharpie, CareerBuilder, AutoTrader.com, JCPenny.com, Delta, Southwest, Carnival, Turks & Caicos Tourism, Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau, ING, Bank of America, Ameriprise, First Horizon Bank, ATT, Microsoft, Dell, Lenovo, Red Hat, and dozens of winery DTC brands.
What others say about Tom:
“First and foremost is his character; Tom is someone that always looks to do the right thing. He’s very conscientious about social and environmental issues and ensuring that his own actions promote his beliefs. He manages himself and his business with integrity. He has a tremendous work ethic and is always striving for excellence.” — John Ormiston, Co-Founder, 2020 Beverage Co.
“A true marketing guru! Highly recommend any nonprofits who need assistance with marketing strategy reach out for Tom.” — Sarah Gersten, Executive Director, Last Prisoner Project
“Tom is one of the paragons of Bill Bernbach’s hiring philosophy – “find talented people who are nice.” — Matt Freeman, Managing Director, Bain Capital
“Tom is one of the best creative and strategic business thinkers with whom I have worked.” — David Botsford, The Botsford Group
“A wellspring for no-nonsense advice and professional direction.” — Andreas Forsland, CEO, Cognixion
“I have had the pleasure to watch Tom go from the financial industry, to beauty, to CPG, to nonprofit — and be the expert in the room every time. If you need a seasoned executive to take on any problem or create new opportunities, I highly recommend reaching out to Tom.” — Teresa Caro, CEO, Luminist
“Tom is in the know. He’s thoughtful in his approach and current with his connections to uncover what’s happening right now, in this moment, and how it impacts a brand’s business and consumers’ behaviors.” — Jessica Bergstresser, Group Creative Director, Digitas
“He is a creative soul with a great determination for accomplishment and to make business happen.” — Steve Baskin, Chief Strategy Officer, Tribe
“Tom has the rare ability to see the big picture and lead strategy development as well as know that the strategy lives via execution. Smart and a pleasure to work with.” — Pam Peligian, SVP Marketing & Communications, Navy Federal Credit Union
“He is among the best I’ve ever known at brand concepting, brand architecture, audience segmentation, messaging, and developing the campaigns that bring those brands to life. He is particularly adept in all forms of digital marketing, analytics and eCommerce. Tom is strategically sound, with inspired creativity and a dedication to insight-driven audience definition, messaging and campaigns.” — John Ormiston, Partner 2020 Beverage Co
“Tom is a new media strategy all-star – he has been in the middle of every advance in new media from the beginning and continues to find ways to innovate. He always impresses me with his practical mix of creative and strategic thinking.” — Derek van Nostrum, CMO, VSiN
“Tom is a real pro with significant high level experience. If you’re looking to get going or get to the next level you should work with Tom.” — Jeff Sutton, Business Transformation Account Director, Lion Food and Beverage (Australia)