Jan F. Brazzell, Ph.D., CFRE
Principal Counsel and CEO
Advancement Consulting
      Jan F. Brazzell, Ph.D., CFRE serves as Principal Counsel and CEO of Advancement Consulting, based in Tacoma, Washington. Advancement Consulting offers customized, professional solutions to help not-for-profit leaders move their organizations forward. Services include pre-campaign planning and readiness studies, as well as education, training, facilitation and coaching in effective fundraising, board development, strategic planning and team-building for optimal performance.
      Active in health care, higher education, arts and culture, and social services management, administration, and fundraising for the past 27 years, Jan is a veteran of many successful fundraising campaigns, programs and boards. Prior to founding Advancement Consulting, she served as Executive Director of the MultiCare Health Foundation, Vice President for Development and University Relations for Pacific Lutheran University, and Director of Corporate, Foundation and Group Support for the Franciscan Foundation for Health Care, all in Tacoma Washington.
      Honored in 2001 as a “Woman of Distinction” by the Girl Scouts – Pacific Peaks Council, Jan is past president of the City Club of Tacoma and The Tacoma Club and also served on the boards of Tacoma Symphony Orchestra, Association of Fundraising Professionals – WA State Chapter, and the Northwest Trek Foundation. Jan speaks frequently on issues related to not-for-profit management, board development and fundraising, and has presented for the University of Washington – Tacoma, Council of Executive Directors, and The Nonprofit Center, among many other organizations.
      A Certified Fund Raising Executive and long-time member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Jan also participates in the Rotary Club of Tacoma #8, Northwest Development Officers Association, The Nonprofit Center and Board Source.
      Contact Information: Jan Brazzell may be reached at (253) 756-7897, or by e-mail at jan@advancementconsulting.com.

      Nancy L. Johnson
Executive Director , Imagine Children’s Museum
      Nancy L. Johnson leads the Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett, Washington, where she has served as Executive Director since 1998. A member of the American Association of Children’s Museums and the Northwest Association of Children’s Museums, Nancy was chosen as one of 35 individuals invited in 2001 to attend the Getty Museum Leadership Institute.
      Nancy led the Imagine Children’s Museum through the organization’s first-ever capital campaign, which raised well over its $4.5 million goal to renovate and create exhibits for the Museum’s new permanent home. New capital campaign and endowment commitments continued to flow to the Imagine Children’s Museum long after the campaign officially ended – a tribute to the community’s hard-won enthusiasm for the project and its confidence in Nancy’s leadership. As a result, the Imagine Children’s Museum was able to add a stunning rooftop education and discovery area to its newly-built facility without having to mount a second capital campaign to fund it.
      Nancy was named one of nine outstanding Women of Achievement in 2004 by the Snohomish County Business Journal. Prior to her current appointment, Nancy served as an elected official on the Snohomish County School District Board for two terms.
      Contact Information: Nancy Johnson may be reached at (425) 258-1006 ext. 1013, or by e-mail at nancyj@imaginecm.org

      “The Little Children’s Museum that Could” shares the story of a fledgling children’s museum that overcame major internal and external obstacles to raise $4.5 million to renovate and create exhibits for a new, permanent home. Raising more than twice the amount deemed feasible by two professional consultants, this case study illustrates how determined leadership, extensive preparation, good planning, inspired work and a dash of magic can help an organization campaign successfully against all odds.

Benefits and Learning Objectives

1. Better understand both the value and limitations of feasibility study predictions and recommendations.
2. Understand key, unquantifiable factors that help organizations exceed “impossible” campaign goals.
3. Know ways to develop readiness for campaigning “against the odds.”
4. Recognize leadership qualities of staff and volunteers essential to beating the odds.