Our speakers

Having 20 years of Foundation experience, Alford leads the Community Foundation of Abilene. In her tenure, assets have reached $210M+ and cumulative grantmaking $200M+.

Anderson's passion for seeing communities thrive has led to a diverse fundraising background. From Giving Days to infrastructure federal grants, she has helped numerous nonprofit agencies reach their goals.

With 15 years of experience, Cassidy specializes in marketing, branding, news media, and public relations. Her work involves storytelling of the Foundation's impact through multichannel communication strategies. 

New to Foundations after 18 years in banking,  Collier has a track record of stewarding donors, nonprofits, and businesses. Collier leads the Foundation's annual giving day, Abilene Gives, which raised $2.3M this year.

An experienced executive director now working as principal in her consulting firm, Curtis-Carr helps nonprofits transform their big ideas into funded realities with strategic grant writing and infrastructure building.

Harris has worked in grantmaking for eight years. Since beginning in 2022, her focus at the Foundation has been on empowering rural communities through strategic funding and program development.

Monse retired after 20 years with the King Foundation and is now the acting principal of M2 Foundation Services, an agency supporting nonprofit capacity building and fund development.

Parrish has worked in nonprofits for 17 years, 11 of which have been with the Foundation. As grants director, she leads her team through competitive local and rural cycles, which award nearly $2M annually.

For more than 25 years, Smith has served as a change agent for companies, higher education, and nonprofits. Eddy is a strategic guide, facilitating organizations and individuals to plan with courage and lead with clarity.

Founder and president of his nonprofit consulting practice, Strawser is a philanthropic coach helping organizations develop the data, funding, and leadership skills necessary to influence change.