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Ted R. Grossnickle, CFRE

Senior Consultant and Founder

ted@jgacounsel.com

Ted Grossnickle brings decades of experience in advancement to help clients to think strategically about their fundraising efforts. A leader to the JGA team and to the broader nonprofit community, he is known for his authentic voice and commitment to guiding organizations to achieve their best.

After graduation from Wabash College, he worked at Procter and Gamble Company, his alma mater, and then at Northern Illinois University where he served in several roles including advancement and corporate relations. From 1983 until 1993, he served as vice president of development and public affairs for Franklin College and then as acting president in 1993. He co-founded JGA with Don Johnson in 1994.

Ted serves as chair of the JGA board of directors, as managing counsel to several clients, and as a mentor to staff. He is deeply engaged in the nonprofit sector as an author, speaker, teacher, and board member and has received numerous honors and awards for his achievements, including the Henry A. Rosso Medal for Lifetime Achievement in Ethical Fundraising. He currently serves as a member and is a former chair of the Giving Institute, serves on the board of Garrett Theological Seminary, and is counselor to The Generosity Commission: A National Conversation on Giving and Voluntary Action. Ted is serving in his second term on the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy Board of Visitors and is a past board chair. He is a former Wabash College board member and served as co-chair of Wabash College’s Challenge of Excellence Campaign.

Previous Experience

  • Acting President of Franklin College
  • Vice President of Development and Public Affairs at Franklin College, Indiana
  • Director of Corporate Relations/Office of the President, Northern Illinois University
  • Director of Special Giving, Northern Illinois University
  • Executive Director, Northern Illinois University Alumni Association
  • Assistant Director of Development, Northern Illinois University

Education

  • CFRE
  • Master’s degree in public administration from Northern Illinois University
  • Bachelor’s degree in political science from Wabash College