Philip J. Akers
Vice President, Consulting Resources
Core Expertise
Philip joined GG+A in 2011 to lead the Consulting Resources team, supporting GG+A clients and consultants with project management, analysis, research, reporting, and other services to enhance the success of their philanthropic management initiatives.
Recent Accomplishments
Philip brings to the firm a 25-year track record of accomplishments in advancement, fundraising, campaign management, and alumni relations in higher education. Most recently serving as Vice President for University Relations at Pacific University, he directed and managed all advancement operations as well as alumni relations. He also built a major gifts unit with emphasis on data-driven approaches and performance metrics. He re-constituted stewardship programs and donor recognition events and was highly successful in reversing a downward trend in alumni giving.
As Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Lewis & Clark College, Philip provided direction to an integrated advancement unit encompassing fundraising and advancement services, alumni relations, public affairs, and communications. He spearheaded an institution-wide branding initiative, successfully engaged alumni in campaign initiatives and priorities, and increased fundraising by 18 percent within a two-year window.
Prior to this, Philip served as Vice President for University Advancement and President of Eastern Washington University Foundation, where he was responsible for providing integrated advancement strategy to address key university initiatives, especially relating to external constituencies. He served as the primary advocate for planning and preparation of the university’s first comprehensive fundraising campaign. During his tenure, Philip led the process of conversion to a new alumni database system, increased total annual fundraising by more than 500 percent, increased the number of annual donors, and doubled total assets of the Eastern Washington University Foundation.
Career Snapshot
Earlier in his career, Philip worked as Regional Director of Development at Washington State University Spokane, where he led a team achieving the Spokane branch campus campaign goal; and Gonzaga University as Director of Annual Giving, where he successfully led staff and volunteers in doubling funds for the Great Teachers Program, the annual fund for Gonzaga University. An accomplished proponent of best practices in philanthropic management, Philip is an active member of Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) and has presented at numerous CASE conferences. He holds a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership from Gonzaga University and a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Portland.
Contact
Phone: 312.372.4040
