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The Unplanned Career in Planned Giving w/ Joe Bull: A Practical Look at How Fundraisers Build Skills, Confidence, and Calling.
Season 1
Episode 74
Published 6 months ago
Description
Joe Bull never set out to become one of the most respected voices in planned giving. Trained in law and athletic administration, he thought he’d spend his career on the sidelines of college sports—not in development offices. One unplanned job at Duke University changed everything, launching a forty-year journey through higher ed, national nonprofits, and the evolution of modern fundraising.
In this episode, Joe talks with host Tom Dauber about:
- How an accidental entry into Duke’s planned giving office became the start of a lifelong vocation
- Lessons from early mentors and the value of being “in the right place at the right time”
- The growing professionalism of planned giving—from two-person shops to major enterprise teams
- Transitioning from Duke to NC State to Ohio State and leading his first campaign
- Moving from higher education to The Nature Conservancy just before the 2008 financial crash
- Why networking and timing shape more careers than strategy ever will
- The origin of “fractional planned giving” work and why many nonprofits need it today
This conversation offers a rare look at how one unplanned turn can define a lifetime of impact.
Website: philanthropyadvisorycouncil.com • Email: joebull@philanthropyadvisorycouncil.com
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