Get to Know Amanda White Consulting.
Hiring a fundraising consultant is an investment. The return on the investment can be significant. To date, the fundraising strategies that Amanda White Consulting has created for all of our clients has paid for our work in addition to generating thousands of additional dollars.
Amanda White
Amanda White has been working to advance nonprofits and small businesses in Madison for 25 years. She has directly raised millions of dollars to support local nonprofit missions, including coaching over 50 clients, including 25 capital campaigns. Unique from other consultants, Amanda is fortunate to have worked in a variety of capacities within the small business and nonprofit sectors. While fundraising and storytelling is her passion, Amanda also has strong experience in financial forecasting, statewide program development, media relations, and even lobbying. These experiences give Amanda a complete understanding of non-profit management, enabling her to create a fundraising strategy that supports an organization’s mission and operations.
“I enjoy fund development because a nonprofit’s financial success makes possible our inspiring ideas on how to improve our communities. Fundraising at its core is all about people believing in other people and a shared passion. Seeing first-hand the generosity and true goodness of other community members is amazing!
My overall goal for every client is to show them that fundraising can be simple. While it does require time and dedication, organizations can absolutely achieve fund development success. I try to make the entire process positive and fun.”
Betty Harris Custer
Betty joins AWC as a consultant, bringing decades of nonprofit campaign expertise and a deep understanding of the community she serves. Her professional foundation is built on a remarkable 54-year career as the founder of Custer Burish Financial Services (originally Custer Financial Services), from which she retired in early 2025.
A pillar of regional philanthropy, Betty has provided strategic leadership to many of the area's most impactful organizations, including The Center for Black Excellence and Culture, Lussier Community Education Center, Operation Fresh Start, Literacy Network, Madison Ballet, and UW Odyssey Project, among others. She most recently co-chaired a campaign for Overture Center, an organization with which she has been involved for 20 years.
At AWC, Betty leverages her deep institutional knowledge and experience to help clients navigate complex fundraising landscapes and build lasting community connections.
Jody Stolldorf
Jody Stolldorf serves as the project and operations manager for AWC. She is a certified meeting planner with over 15 years of event management and communications experience, and spent a decade in corporate philanthropy management. Jody supports the AWC team and our clients through her extensive planning, writing and organizational skills.
When asked what drew her to her role at AWC, she said, “My experience managing corporate giving and hosting workplace giving campaigns has introduced me to the unique and impactful work of countless organizations across many communities. It is a privilege to support their growth and the work of the AWC team.”
There Are Three Key Aspects of Successfully Hiring a Consultant:
Choose the Right Consultant
Make sure the person or firm you hire is able to tailor a strategy to fit your organization’s unique needs. You should feel comfortable with that person as you will be working closely with them. Ask other people in the non-profit world and learn about their experiences with fund development consultants.
Prioritize the Fund Development Work
As nonprofit leaders we all are working a million hours every week and have little time for “extra” work. However, the consultant can’t do their job to the best of their ability without your time and attention. The time and dollars invested in the fund development will pay off.
Get the Board
on Board!
Having at least 1-2 Board members engaged is important for getting the rest of the Board to support the implementation of the strategy that’s developed. A good consultant will educate the Board on the importance of leadership and their role in fund development.