Jennifer Winnett Denniston

Favorite inspirational quote:

“Well-behaved women rarely make history.”

Areas of expertise: Planned giving program design, planned giving technical training, donor stewardship strategy development, major and principal gifts fundraising, staff development and training, leadership coaching, and metrics

Causes I’m most passionate about: Equality, diversity, women’s issues, and access to education

My fundraising story: My career has been a winding road with stops in banking, investment planning, law, and finally philanthropy. I focused my legal practice in estate planning and later found my professional passion in planned giving. Having served as both a front-line fundraiser and a program manager, I appreciate the special challenge and opportunity of planned giving. I enjoy setting strategic direction based on data and coaching fundraisers so they can develop strong relationships with their donors, leading them to transformational gifts through a personally rewarding cultivation experience.

Why I care about helping nonprofits grow: I am an impact junkie. I spent a good portion of my life sitting at a desk with a pen and a copy of the US Tax Code. Now, doing this work where you can draw a straight line from the work an organization is doing to actual lives that are impacted every day–it’s a dream.  I want to do as much of that as possible.

Hobbies: Reading, cooking, tennis (playing, watching, and chauffeuring)

Unusual talent: I have an uncanny ability to recall song lyrics, especially Christmas carols. Is Grandma asking to sing all the verses of The First Noel? I’m here for it.