John A. Geissal, CFRE
Project Director
John Geissal is an experienced fundraising professional who offers NCDS clients over thirty years of funding and organizational development experience. He has spent his career working with top community and corporate leaders in a wide variety of capacities. He is well versed in the NCDS MaxFund methodology and has a substantial track record securing six-figure investments.
John recently completed a successful fast-track renewal campaign in Aberdeen, SD, a campaign he successfully managed four years ago. Previous to this assignment he led an over goal $3.3 million economic development campaign for the Bloomington Normal Area Economic Development Council. John has also directed a $2.4 million capital campaign for the Virginia Air & Space Center and in Hampton, Virginia, and conducted a successful $3.0 million feasibility analysis for the Tri-Cities Business Alliance in Northeastern Tennessee and Southwestern Virginia.
During his career, John has worked with local chapters of national health agencies, statewide and national organizations, and even organizations that supported programs internationally. He has worked with a wide variety of constituencies, helping them define their organizational goals, and attain them.
Another of John’s specialties includes helping clients through organizational development issues. John recently supervised the merger of two organizations. Moreover, he spearheaded the development of their strategic plan, increased their fundraising by 300%, and increased their endowment from $100,000 to over $1 million. John also previously supervised a capital campaign for endowment of the Illinois 4-H Foundation.
John is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), a designation by the Association of Fund Raising Professionals, which certifies his understanding of all aspects of fund development, and non-profit management. He has served as instructor for seminars conducted in conjunction with the National Society of Fund Raising Executives (now Association of Fundraising Professionals) and the Fund Raising School on Fund Development and Campaign Management.
John graduated from the University of Kansas with a double major in Psychology and Education, where he was a yell leader, and after a three-year teaching stint in Puerto Rico, he has served in the non-profit sector. He lives with his wife in Urbana, Illinois, and is the father of two children and one grandson.