Black Fundraising Expert Robert Poole To Help HBCUs, Nonprofits

Memphis, TN — Saad&Shaw announces the addition of Robert “Bob” Poole to its team of fundraising experts. Poole brings nearly 40 years of experience in higher education fund development and community relations.

For the past 14 years, Poole served in Meharry Medical College’s institutional advancement division, most recently as senior vice president. He was instrumental in raising a historic $125 million for the successful Campaign for Meharry, and has since secured more than $90 million in private philanthropy.

After starting his career in development leadership at Fisk University, Poole served for 11 years as director and later vice chancellor for development at North Carolina Central University, where he launched and completed the institution’s first comprehensive campaign. He then worked at Norfolk State University as vice president for development, expanding private giving and marketing initiatives and generating significant federal funding.

He later returned to Fisk University as vice president for institutional advancement, and subsequently served in the major gifts division at Dillard University.

A native of Winston-Salem, N.C., and a graduate of Fisk University, Poole has achieved consistent success across philanthropic disciplines including corporate and foundation relations, planned giving, major gifts, and alumni giving. He has also fostered effective new marketing and public relations programs.

In his role as a Senior Philanthropic Advisor at Saad&Shaw, Poole will apply his expertise to working with colleges and universities, with an emphasis on historically black colleges and universities. His areas of expertise include:

  1. Growing annual giving campaigns
  2. Increasing donor participation
  3. Structuring direct mail campaigns
  4. Donor segmentation
  5. Fundraising assessments (staff and donor base)
  6. Board development
  7. Portfolio development and management
  8. Donor analysis

About Saad&Shaw – Comprehensive Fund Development Services
Saad&Shaw provides the most affordable fund development counsel to our nation’s nonprofits, colleges and businesses without sacrificing quality. For more information, visit www.saadandshaw.com.

Call Melvin Shaw at (901) 522-8727 to learn how Saad&Shaw can help your HBCU or nonprofit.