The North Carolina Mason

January/February 2017 The North Carolina Mason Page 13 Jeff Hensley Chief Development Officer Je joined the North Carolina Masonic Foun- dation in August as its new Chief Development O!cer. He leads the fundraising eorts of the Foundation as it seeks support for its two prin- cipal charities—the Masonic Home for Children and WhiteStone. He brings over 15 years of experience building the scal capacity of nonprots and educa- tional institutions. Most recently, he served as the development director of the Internet Society, an international nonprot of 100 employees with a $40 million annual budget. Over a ve- year period, he grew annual fundraising from $300,000 to over $10 million and helped conceive, implement, and manage the Internet Society's rst-ever $50 million capital campaign. He also has worked as a fundraising consultant for higher education, K12, healthcare, and nonprot clients. As a consultant, he specialized in helping organizations develop fundraising initiatives and conduct capital campaigns. He completed his undergraduate studies at Wheaton College (IL), his divinity training at Yale Divinity School, and doctoral work in religious studies also at Yale. Prior to becoming a development professional, Hensley taught theology/religious studies for nearly a decade at both the university (Baylor) and seminary (Virginia eological Seminary) levels. Je is a native of Asheville and has been married to Danielle for 23 years. ey have two teenage children, Noah and Claire, and currently live in Cary. Chris Richardson Eastern Region Director of Development Chris joins the NCMF after 17 years at e Masonic Home for Children, starting as assis- tant director of development and marketing. He developed the Home's initial Financial Develop- ment Program working with donors and poten- tial donors to establish planned and individual gifts, donated goods and services, giving, and acknowledgments. He traveled to count- less lodges to promote giving to the Home and the children it serves. During his tenure, Chris managed a $7 million dollar capital campaign, an annual $1 million operations campaign, and worked with several estates that have contrib- uted more than $40 million in long-term gifts. At the home, he also served as business manager, assistant administrator, and interim. Chris holds a B.S. in Science (Biology) from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va., and a Masters in Business Administra- tion from Elon University. He has worked in medical services, nance and management at Duke University Medical Center and Granville Medical Center. He is a member of Oxford Masonic Lodge 122, Orphans Masonic Lodge 761 and is a past board member of the VFG Smart Start Board and the Leadership Granville Board. He currently serves on the Grand Lodge of NC Finance Committee and various other Masonic nancial development committees. Chris is a native of Christiansburg, Va., and is married to his wife of 18 years, Elizabeth. ey have two children, Robbie and Mary Elizabeth. Beth Grace Director of Communications Beth Grace brings decades of front-line jour- nalism experience to the foundation as editor of the NC Mason and the NCMF's' rst director of communications. A native of Pittsburgh, Pa., Beth graduated from Bethany College in West Virginia with a B.A. in Communications and worked for two daily newspapers in Ohio before joining e Associated Press as a reporter in 1985 in the Columbus, Ohio, bureau. She rose to news editor for Ohio, then became assistant bureau chief before becoming the AP's New York State bureau chief. She and her sta assisted the AP's New York City bureau and national desks in covering the attack on the World Trade Center on 9/11 and the aftermath. She later was promoted to bureau chief for Missouri/ Kansas before moving south to Raleigh in 2005 to become Executive Director of the North Carolina Press Association, the trade associa- tion serving daily, weekly and online newspapers around the state. For the last two years, Beth ran her own consulting business, WordWorks Communica- tions, writing web and print communications for private clients, communications training for a major national electric utility, and editing manuscripts. She is a board member of the North Carolina Open Government Coalition; a former senior warden, vestry member at St. Michael's church in Raleigh; and is a member of the Transition Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina, which is assisting in the selection of the next bishop. Masonic Foundation's leadership team care of for the rest of our lifetimes. ey did their work," he said. "We're faced with exactly the same situation now, and that's what led us to where we are in our work on strengthening the Foundation. He is pleased with how the eort is progressing, particularly when it comes to brotherly relationships. We have three terric leaders to take this thing going forward, and one of the most pleasing aspects to me so far is that all three of our charities – WhiteStone, the Chil- dren's Home and the Foundation itself – have become closer than ever before. e cooperation to get this o the ground has brought a lot of people together." at's the main goal, said Hensley, "to put all of our charities in the minds and hearts of all Masons, to assist the charities in raising money and to put a real face on the people we serve, and share the real needs they have." at means Hensley and his team of fundraisers will spend a good amount of time on the road visiting prospective donors within the Masonic family, speaking to lodges about the Foundation changes and appearing at District Meetings, and thanking those who give from the heart. "All of our charities will not only maintain their current donor relationships and retain their own identities," says Hensley, "ey will have solid support from the Founda- tion and its team. It's not easy to raise funds alone; we're a Masonic FOUNDATION, from page 1 ■ see FOUNDATION page 14

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