J. Russell Raker, III, PhD, ACFRE
J. Russell Raker, III, retired from fundraising after 47 years in the profession. He has come out of retirement to serve as the first Director of Development for Nevada State College, Henderson, NV. He is working with the College’s leadership team to develop a comprehensive fundraising program, with a commitment to integrity, quality, taste and stewardship.
For the first half of his professional career, he held senior advancement and administrative positions in higher education at such institutions as Lehigh University (PA), Columbia University/Graduate School of Business (NY), University of Rochester (NY), Hiram College (OH), and the University of Redlands (CA). He also served as a senior consultant on the staff of Campbell & Company (IL), a full service consulting firm, conducting numerous capital campaigns for nonprofit organizations across North America, and as Vice President of Client Services, IDC, Henderson, NV. He finished his higher education tenure as President of the Nebraska Independent College Foundation (NE). In healthcare, over the past twenty-five years, he has served organizations such as: Kettering Medical Center Corporation and Foundation (OH); Morton Plant Mease Foundation (FL), Loma Linda University Health Sciences Center and Corporation (CA); and, the renowned Don & Sybil Harrington Cancer Center/Texas Tech University (TX).
In the field of social service, he has led philanthropy teams for: Family Service America (WI); the Family Foundation of North America (WI); and, Cal Farley’s (TX). Throughout his career, he has directed staff and volunteer committees in such advancement activities as: all phases of comprehensive fundraising initiatives, marketing, communications, public relations, community relations, strategic philanthropy planning and positioning, board and volunteer fundraising development, institutional strategic planning, and programs directed in the support of education, research and service delivery. In healthcare, he built clinical product lines in heart, cancer, ob/gyn medicine, rehabilitation and orthopedic services, professional medical education, medical recruitment and facility development.
Russ earned his BA (magna cum laude) from Alderson-Broaddus College (WV) and his advanced degrees (cum laude) in higher education administration from Columbia University (NY). He holds membership in many health, higher education, and professional fundraising organizations, including AFP, AHP, CASE and Phi Kappa Delta. He is one of approximately 80 individuals to hold the Advanced Certified Fundraising Executives (ACFRE/Life) designation of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), Alexandria, VA. As a member of AFP, he led the formation of two chapters (Omaha, NE and Dayton, OH); served as a national board member; served as a member of the AFP Certification Board; and, chaired the Advanced Certification Committee for six years, which under his direction, led to the creation of the ACFRE credential for AFP.
