Stephen A. Eberle, CFRE

I would have laughed if you had told me twenty years ago that I’d end up in fundraising. Back then, in my 20s, I was young, idealistic, and, honestly, a little cynical. I believed that change only came from rolling up your sleeves and getting involved in direct service. Hit the streets and go protest! To me, those were the only ways to truly make a difference. I’ll admit that I looked down on those who I imagined just wrote checks from the comfort of their homes, disconnected from the real work happening on the ground.

But life has a funny way of shifting your perspective.
I’ve spent my career in the volunteer services industry, starting with a year of service through the Capuchin Franciscan Volunteer Corps, an AmeriCorps-affiliated program. At St. Peter’s Adult Learning Center, I worked with volunteers who served adults with developmental disabilities. After that, I spent time with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, overseeing young adults committed to a year of service and helping them navigate how to make an impact. Later, I managed the service learning program at Cabrini College, connecting students, faculty, and staff with opportunities to engage in meaningful service work. For the last 11 years, I’ve been with the Ignatian Volunteer Corps, continuing to build on my passion for service.
One thing has remained constant throughout all this: my belief that each person has gifts and talents that can make a difference in the world. I’ve had countless conversations with people about where their skills intersect with the world’s needs. But as time passed, I realized that these conversations are the same in fundraising. The only difference is that we’re talking about financial capital instead of leveraging human capital.
That realization changed the course of my career.

I’ve come to believe that fundraising is just another form of service. It’s about connecting people who want to make a difference with the causes that matter to them. It’s not about the size of the check; it’s about the impact. I no longer see fundraising as something detached from the work on the ground. In fact, it’s essential to it. Without resources, nonprofits can’t carry out their missions. That’s why I’m passionate about getting nonprofits the funding they need to achieve their goals.
We in the nonprofit industry are often told we have to do more with less. But I don’t believe that has to be the case. I believe we can – and should – do more with more. And I’m here to make that happen.
Whether you’re a nonprofit looking to elevate your fundraising efforts or someone looking to make a difference through giving, I’m excited to help you leverage the power of philanthropy to create real, lasting change.