Pursuant Ketchum Names Dr. Gary Cole, CFRE Executive Vice President, Pursuant Consulting

.

DALLAS, Aug. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Pursuant Ketchum, a full-service fundraising consulting firm, recently announced that Gary Cole, formerly senior vice president of healthcare, has been promoted to lead the firm's renowned team of fundraising consultants. Cole, with more than 20 years of experience in professional fundraising in healthcare, higher education and independent school environments, will lead the expansion of Pursuant's fundraising counsel beyond traditional major gift and capital campaign services to meet the changing needs of nonprofit organizations in a more complex and competitive world.

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110311/DA63473LOGO)

"A practitioner-scholar and thoughtful leader, it is perhaps Gary's ability to challenge norms and outdated practices that is having the greatest impact in propelling our clients toward exceeding their respective objectives," notes Trent Ricker, Pursuant's President and CEO.  

Cole has spent his entire professional career working with nonprofit organizations and the generous philanthropic donors who support them in hopes of building a better society. During this time, he has played an integral role in building fundraising teams and programs as well as directing and providing counsel to campaigns ranging from $1 Million to $500 Million for nonprofit organizations across the United States.  Most recently, Cole's client engagements have included: Wake Forest Baptist Health, YWCA of Metropolitan Dallas, and the Community Memorial Health System of Ventura, CA.

Prior to joining Pursuant Ketchum, Cole served as the Vice President of Development for Cook Children's Health Foundation, Vice President of Development for the University of Texas at Arlington, Director of Development for The Hockaday School, Director of Development for the University of Texas at Dallas, and Director of School Development for the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth.

"I'm thrilled to assume leadership of the most innovative, forward-thinking team of consultants in the profession today," says Cole. "Our team of client-centered consultants builds upon the 92-year legacy of Carlton Ketchum while bringing to clients Pursuant's unparalleled thought leadership for the twenty-first century."

A proponent of lifelong learning, Cole frequently presents at conferences. He earned a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership with an emphasis on the Not for Profit Sector from Nova Southeastern University, a Master's degree in Philanthropy and Development, from St. Mary's University, and a Bachelor's degree in Technical Communication from Texas Tech University.

Cole is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE), member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), a former board member of the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy, a member of the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP), and a recipient of the Ben Franklin Award for Outstanding Professional Fundraising Executive.

About Pursuant

At Pursuant, we're committed to a single purpose: serving nonprofits and helping them achieve their greatest potential. That's why we offer a complete range of fundraising and marketing communications services across the entire donor relationship pyramid. Our services include interactive and social media constituent outreach, acquisition programs, direct response communication, capital campaign counsel, and outsourced major and mid-level giving services. We serve a wide range of outstanding nonprofit organizations including those in health and human services, education, fraternal organizations, churches and faith-based organizations, and conservative political entities. Learn more about Pursuant and our family of brands (Pursuant Ketchum, Pursuant Sports, RSI and KMA) at pursuantgroup.com.

SOURCE Pursuant Ketchum