“Your wisdom and guidance over the past three years kept us on track for our successful quest of a $10 million Donald W. Reynolds Foundation grant to build a new Baxter County Library. I am sure that we could not have done it without your help. You kept us focused and on track. Thanks to Walt and Paul for your attention to detail and your personal commitment to our project.”
~Gwen Khayat, Baxter County Librarian
“The professional manner in which Paul Gardner approached our volunteers was very evident and many have expressed their appreciation for your visit. Our trustees were equally impressed during the time you had with them. Even though we have made the decision not to undertake a campaign at this time, the information you gathered will be invaluable as we look toward a future effort.”
~Steve Owens, President/CEO, Arkansas State University Foundation
“Walt Eilers is the City Council appointee to the Botanic Garden of the Ozarks board and is our elected Vice President. He donated his professional time and expertise to update our corporate papers and bylaws, moderated our planning sessions, drafted our first Strategic Plan and continues to assist the Garden to progress toward financial sustainability through chairing our Fundraising Committee. Walt is deeply committed to the Garden and making it a successful regional attraction. BGSO counts on his advise and experience to help our new venture grow and blossom.”
~Bill Dollar, President, Botanical Garden Society of the Ozarks
“When I assumed my present role with Baptist Health Foundation, we contracted with Gardner to conduct a development audit. With your findings and good advice, we made some structural changes so people could grow professionally and use their skills and strengths more effectively. As a result, our team is energized, motivated, and excelling at even higher levels.
…and Gardner & Associates have my greatest respect, my utmost trust, and my highest recommendation.”
~Diane Harrison, CFRE Executive Vice President, Baptist Health Foundation
“The Nursing Education Consortium consists of the four nursing schools serving Northwest Arkansas. Walt Eilers has aided NEC as a consultant since its inception in 2004. He helped us gain our IRS status, secure over $800,000 in grants to operate our programs and moderated our annual strategic planning process. Walt has been instrumental in the success of our Bilingual Nursing Scholars Initiative. We are pleased with his attention to detail and his personal commitment to our mission to improve nursing education. We continue to partner with Walt because we know his commitment and that we can count on him to give excellent service and advice.”
~Elaine Holloway, President, Northwest Arkansas Nursing Education Consortium
“As a client of Gardner & Associates, I would highly recommend their services to any Boys & Girls Club for capital fundraising. Our club had a feasibility study done first which was very important to our campaign. This was our first Capital Campaign and we interviewed several applicants…but were most impressed by this group.”
~Cathy Andrasik, Executive Director, Boys & Girls Clubs
“I cannot say enough about Paul’s willingness to be available to this inexperienced development officer. He has taken calls many days and evenings, and with patience and thoroughness, has answered questions and given advice. Paul has spent many hours in planning sessions and has coached me in the delicate matter of ‘the ask.’ His many years of experience in the field of development and his ability to communicate his ideas simply and succinctly have been invaluable to me. He has gone well beyond the ‘expected’ in time and commitment, to help us reach our goals. Paul’s outstanding reputation as a fundraiser, both locally and nationally, is well deserved.”
~Lyn Whaley, Director of Development, Vera Lloyd Presbyterian Home & Family Services Inc.
“Yvonne Richardson Community Center serves the South Fayetteville community with a range of programs. Walt Eilers came to our board to offer his pro bono service to help us conduct a community needs assessment and to develop a strategic plan. He helped us through the process and assisted us to develop and implement a strategy that will help us improve our services to our neighbors. Walt continues to participate in our programs and to offer his help. YRCC highly recommends Gardner & Associates as consultants who are engaged in the community and who seek to make it a better place in which to live and grow.”
~Syard Evans, YRCC Board
“Wow! You really broadened my ‘horizons!’ I very much enjoyed our training session with you and I really learned a lot. I am truly excited about the campaign here and the personal growth opportunities it presents.”
~Gina Garrett, Lyon College
“This is to recommend Dr. Paul Gardner, Gardner & Associates, as a full service fundraising professional. Paul is leading and guiding the most aggressive campaign ever in the history of York College. My appreciation for Paul extends beyond his professional experience for one central reason–he deeply cares about his clients and is personally committed to their success. Because of his extensive experience in higher education and his understanding of ‘the academic community,’ he also serves as a personal consultant to me on a variety of educational issues beyond campus financial development.”
~Wayne Baker, President, York College
“Just Communities of Central Arkansas worked with Paul Gardner and Walt Eilers to develop a Strategic Plan to help us move toward financial sustainability. We are pleased with their work and their commitment to our mission. They not only helped devise a workable Strategic Plan, but continue to maintain communications and assist us with new ideas on ways to organize and prioritize our work.”
~Ruth Shepherd, Executive Director, JCCA
“I’ve known Paul and Walt of Gardner and Associates through their work with two Universities. Their candid and straight forward approach, combined with their inclusive nature and attention to detail have helped our University as well as our professional careers.”
~John Gyllin, Director of Development, Northeastern State University, Tahlequah, OK
“This campaign is the second time that I have worked with Paul and Walt of Gardner & Associates. I am pleased that they customize their work strategy to fit the client’s needs and situation. In the case of West Texas, they instantly spotted a need to include our alumni and supporters in a review of the campus priorities and Strategic Plan. They altered their original plan and timeframe and offered us a thoughtful strategy and plan to cultivate our support base to determine the level of awareness before launching a Pre-Campaign study. I respect their high level of commitment and
professionalism.”
~Dr. Neal Weaver, Vice President for Institutional Advancement, West Texas A&M University, Canyon, TX