Conversations with Jerry Panas & Brian Saber

On July 14, 2018, the fundraising field lost one of its true legends. Jerry Panas impacted fundraising for almost 70 years as a fundraiser, consultant, author, and thought leader. How many organizations owe their success to the work of Jerry and his eponymous firm? How many of us have his books on our shelves and still return to them for inspiration and guidance? When Brian Saber finally convinced Jerry to sit down in 2018 for a series of talks, he had no idea these talks would constitute the bulk of Jerry’s final thoughts on the field. While Jerry had been weakened by illness, he was still vibrant and engaged and had much to say on the topic of fundraising. Brian spent five days at Jerry’s home between March and June 2018, covering topics from the evolution of boards to the art of listening, from how to make the strongest case to why you didn’t get the gift. One session was focused on Jerry’s top words of wisdom. We are honored to share these conversations with the field. Please enjoy them and share them with your peers.