Bio

For over 25 years, Alan Hutson has helped nonprofit leaders tap into their fundraising potential. He serves as Chief Development Officer of Gateway Homes, a mental health services agency offering life-changing outcomes to over 420 individuals annually. He is also a Senior Partner Consultant at =mc consulting where he serves on the Decision Science team. Additionally, Alan serves as Director of Bow Tie Fundraising, a fundraising consultancy that focusses on empowering nonprofit CEOs and development staff to “own” the revenue portion of their agency’s budget.

Throughout his career, Alan has helped staff and volunteers discover their path to being involved in fundraising. Alan’s work has resulted in nonprofit organizations raising over $250M (US-based clients).

Alan uses his US-based fundraising expertise and background in economics to support the work of =mc consulting. Specifically, he has worked with =mc to help define the global fundraising strategies for Smile Train, Médecins Sans Frontières, Adeso, UNICEF, and IFRC. Additionally, he has worked on country-specific fundraising strategies for Médecins Sans Frontières. Likewise, Alan has been able to apply his international learning to his work with clients closer to home. Regardless of the size of the client or the scope of the project, Alan brings cutting-edge ideas into refining fundraising strategy.

In the US or abroad, Alan deeply believes that the real brilliance is in the program side of nonprofit organizations. He feels privileged to be able to devote his managerial skills and fund development expertise to bringing those programs to scale and is humbled by the determination and dedication of nonprofit program staff members. Alan believes that even excellent program staff can benefit from a well-devised fundraising strategy to support their cause.

Alan’s professional affiliations reflect his commitment to advancing the field of philanthropy. He is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and the Virginia Association of Fundraising Executives. In 2009, 2011, and 2013, Alan was invited to speak at the Southern African Institute of Fundraising (SAIF) where he also performed pro bono consultation with nonprofits ranging from an HIV/AIDS orphanage to a leadership development academy for the chronically unemployed. In 2011, SAIF asked him to help chart the future of SAIF through a strategic partnership with AFP. Additionally, he has presented at the Virginia Fundraising Institute (2013, 2016, 2017 as a keynote speaker, 2018, 2023, and 2024), at AFP’s International Conference (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2023, 2024), at the International Fundraising Congress (2015 and 2017), China’s Global Fund Conference (2016), ALDE’s conference (2016 and 2020), Japan’s annual fundraising conference (2018), the US Olympic Committee’s development conference (2018), and the Virginia Association of Museums (2024).

Alan’s leadership within the nonprofit world can also be seen in his volunteer work. He is a past board member of AFP Global, has served on AFP Foundation for Philanthropy’s Executive Committee, and is a past board member of the Adira Foundation. In Richmond, he has served on the boards of the local AFP chapter (Past Board Chair), Circle Center Adult Day Services (Past Governance Committee Chair), and 1708 Gallery (Past Finance Committee Chair). Alan current serves on the boards of the Greater Richmond Bar Foundation and the Virginia Association of Fundraising Executives.

Additionally, Alan feels it is important to dedicate time to civic memberships which have included: the Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce, the Better Business Bureau Serving Central Virginia, the Richmond Business Council’s Education Subcommittee, and the Rotary Club of Richmond, where he was a Paul Harris Fellow and past recipient of the President’s Award.

Alan graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Davidson College. Through his work in the nonprofit world, he realized the power of liberal arts: “If you love what you do, and infuse what you do with the best that humanity has to offer…a true liberal arts approach…then you end up conveying emotion in your product… and it will be something that people don’t just want – they will love.” (Steve Jobs, 1994). Alan also holds both a Masters of Public Administration and a post-baccalaureate certificate in Nonprofit Management from VCU. He is a graduate of Leadership Metro Richmond and AFP’s Faculty Training Academy.