BIO

Benjamin Wirick, the founder of Philanthropy Systems and partner in Philanthropy Solutions, is a nonprofit career professional with over 25 years of nonprofit development experience, seven years as the Vice President, Development & Community Support, and ten years as a consultant.  Wirick is a speaker, leader, mentor, and thought leader.

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Wirick has developed an innovative approach to fundraising solicitation.  Wirick's methodology is rooted in the belief that fundraising solicitations are at their best when the fundraising officer guides the prospect through the giving process (the best being a higher conversion rate, high gift amount, and shorter cycle times).  Adopted from principles of both nonprofit and for-profit methodologies, Wirick's approach to fundraising solicitation has proven to be highly successful in healthcare, education, art, social services, and religious organizations.

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In 2022, Wirick founded Philanthropy Systems to help nonprofit professionals raise more money.  Philanthropy Systems teaches Wirick's methodologies to individual professionals, works with departments and organizations to implement the methods, and assists with critical data needs, such as database management and prospect research.

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Key to fundraising success is "having the right data at the right time to make the right decisions," which incorporates advanced uses of data in fundraising.  Typically, a development team has one or two full-time employees dedicated to data, which is insufficient to meet the needs of a team greater than six or seven.  Wirick partnered with Alfonso Galindo to build common data practices (such as prospect research, major gift officer support, Vice President decision-making data, etc.).  Wirick and Galindo understood that most nonprofit development teams also lacked the data necessary to make the "right decisions," leaving valuable dollars on the table.  To help these organizations maximize their fundraising, Wirick and Galindo founded "Philanthropy Solutions," which works with nonprofit leaders and departments to ensure that they have the data necessary to fund their mission.  Often, this work involved the "outsourcing" of the organization's "development database coordinator" or "manager" position to the Philanthropy Solutions team.

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From 2016-2022, Wirick worked as Vice President of Development & Community Support at AltaMed Health Services, where he grew the fundraising revenue from $1.2M annually to $15M annually.  Before AltaMed, he was the Founder and Principal at Arrowhead Management, a consulting firm specializing in major gift solicitation, capital campaigns, and board management.

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Wirick has successfully solicited seven and eight-figure gifts and thoroughly enjoys fundraising.  "When you understand how the donor makes financial decisions, fundraising is incredibly rewarding," says Wirick. 

Wirick has a B.A. in English from CSU Long Beach and a Master's in Public Policy and Administration from CSU Long Beach (go Dirtbags).  He is a hiker, successfully hiking the John Muir Trail and the Camino de Santiago de Compostella while sectioning the Pacific Crest Trail.  He lives with his wife, Nicole, and their three children in Claremont, CA.