Before founding The Phoenix Philanthropy Group in 2004, Richard Tollefson was Vice President for Institutional Advancement at his alma mater, Thunderbird School of Global Management, the world’s leading international business school. There he managed two comprehensive fundraising campaigns, raising funds and managing constituent engagement programs in 26 countries, and secured a $60 million commitment – at the time the largest-ever naming gift to a college or business school in the world.
Richard is actively engaged in a number of philanthropic organizations including Giving Institute, Social Venture Partners International, Social Venture Partners Arizona, Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), Association of Fundraising Professionals, and Arizona Community Foundation’s Kellenberger + Tollefson Center for LGBTQ Philanthropy.