Fundraising operations is a common notion across all nonprofits. Chris Cannon has spent his career improving and expanding operations so organizations can raise more money and build more relationships. This blog is aimed at broadening the discussion about topics that affect fundraising.

Christopher M. Cannon, CFRE, is the president of strategic services for Zuri Group. His expertise includes fundraising strategy systems, operations, database management, database conversion projects, gift processing, data reporting and business intelligence, prospect development, and technology. He wrote An Executive’s Guide to Fundraising Operations (Wiley 2011) to help professionals understand how to leverage operations to raise more money. Click here for details.

Mr. Cannon’s unique strengths include facilitating productive relationships between front-line fundraisers, advancement operations staff, and IT professionals. Mr. Cannon frequently guides clients through complex business process improvement project designed to increase productivity.

Mr. Cannon’s clients include a diverse group of international and best-practice setting universities, colleges, healthcare organizations, and membership organizations. Prior to joining Zuri Group, Mr. Cannon managed advancement services counsel for BWF and served as research and development services director at Saint Louis University where he managed an advancement services team. He has led successful campaign planning projects, database conversions, business intelligence environments for campaign reporting and prospect analytics, and  best-in-class prospect management systems. His systems experience and expertise includes the Raiser’s Edge system and other Blackbaud products, Ellucian’s Banner and Advance, Sage’s Millennium, Jenzabar, and other systems used in fundraising. Previously, Mr. Cannon held positions at the Saint Louis Zoo and the Saint Louis Science Center.

Mr. Cannon holds a Master of Arts from The University of Kansas and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Truman State University. He is a featured speaker and writer for CASE, AASP, APRA, AFP, AHP and other organizations.