Mark Dillon

Senior Vice President, Founder, Advancement Solutions
 

Meet Mark Dillon

Dr. R. Mark Dillon is the Executive Vice President of the Christian Higher Education and Nonprofit division of Generis. He holds the Doctor of Philosophy in Philanthropy and Leadership from The Union Institute in Cincinnati, the Master of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and a Bachelor of Arts from Bethel University. He has been a successful Chief Development officer for over 25 years, and authored the book: Giving and Getting in the Kingdom: A Field Guide (2012), considered to be a standard guide for fundraising in the Christian realm.

Dr. Dillon has spoken on topics related to giving and getting at gatherings of the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), the Christian Stewardship Association, the Association of Theological Schools (ATS), and the Chief Advancement Officer gatherings of the Coalition of Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU). He has consulted with numerous colleges, universities, and seminaries in North America as well as a number of churches and nonprofit ministries. He has also taught a fundraising and stewardship principles course at the university level.

His dissertation research and publication were funded by the Lilly Endowment and won honorable mention in the Staley/Robeson/Ryan Award for Outstanding Research in Philanthropy and Fundraising. In the foreword to Dr. Dillon’s book, Advancing Advancement (1990), Robert Payton, then Director of the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, said, “This short and succinct report is a vade mecum for seminary development. Don’t just read it-wear it out.”

For over 25 years, Dr. Dillon has led a team of development professionals, first at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School/Trinity College, for 19 years at Wheaton College (Wheaton, IL), and most recently at the American Bible Society. He has engaged with countless thoughtful Christian stewards and ministry leaders.

Dr. Dillon and his wife, Susan, live in Chicago, IL and are the proud parents of three children, Daniel, Joel, and Laura Grace, and grandparents to ten precious grandchildren.

SERVICES

No matter the size of your God-inspired dreams, it can be daunting to think about chasing down the necessary resources. The truth is that while vision almost always exceeds current realities, the means to support your vision is within your grasp. 

With Generis, you’re not alone. Our customized Campaign approach will help you assess, rethink and reframe your current reality, allowing you to reach your specific goals while also establishing a foundation for increased generosity overall.

Let’s be honest; there are times when one-on-one guidance, encouragement and accountability brings out the best in us and accelerates our ability to chase down those big, audacious dreams. The Generis Coaching experience is designed to align with your greatest needs and is delivered over a period of time that makes the most sense for you.

Good fundraisers are hard to find, and organizations often need interim assistance with their development programs during periods of staff vacancies. Our team members can fill any open role from Chief Development Officer to Major Gift Officer to Annual Fund Director. We can also help you build a position profile for your open position and assist with the interview process. Don’t lose momentum while you search for permanent staff—let us fill the gap.

 

The most successful organizations we know operate from a carefully crafted Annual Development Plan. Whether you need help building a plan from the ground up, or whether you need help enhancing your current plan, we can help. Let us assist you in setting gift income goals, acquiring new donors, expanding your communication strategies, building a stronger major gifts program, adding a planned gifts program, helping your board understand their role in fundraising, and ensuring execution by assigning specific tasks and dates to the right people.

RESOURCES

Contact Mark Dillon