Meet Our Team

Click on each name for more info.

Jim Shapiro

Co-Founder
Seattle, WA

Jim Shapiro is the fundraising coach you’ve always wanted, the proven Sherpa who can help you get to the top of the mountain. Jim has 25+ years’ experience raising money, including serving as the VP of Development for a global $100m nonprofit. He co-founded The Better Fundraising Co. to help small-to-medium nonprofits raise more money. Outside his fundraising work, he serves his community as a high school football coach and finds great joy playing with his two grandkids. Jim is married, has three kids, two grandkids and a Maltese Shih Tzu named Dwyane.

Steven Screen

Co-Founder
Bainbridge Island, WA

Steven Screen is an experienced Fundraiser who gets energized helping organizations understand how they can raise more money. He’s a second-generation fundraiser, a past winner of the Direct Mail Package of the Year, and data-driven. His superpower is summarizing things. Steven is married and has three kids.

Jonathan Steck

Creative Director
Seattle, WA

An Aussie living in Seattle, Jonathan Steck proudly represents the Commonwealth by spreading vegemite on his toast, using the metric system, and having Siri respond with an Australian accent. But as Better Fundraising's Creative Director, Jonathan is much smarter. He brings more than 15 years of fundraising knowledge to the team and looks forward to helping your mission grow!

Gretchen Miller

Director of Operations
Bentonville, AR

Many people view chaos as something they run from, or something they actually help create; Gretchen views it like a beautiful, wild mustang with incredible potential to accomplish great things if harnessed and focused in the right direction. She loves to organize projects, clear hurdles and wrangle calendars just about as much as she enjoys coffee on the beach. However, when faced with the tension and uncertainty of her daughter and son’s many basketball games and her husband, Daniel’s annoying ability to remain calm, you will find her in the corner of the gym practicing self-awareness and all the latest and greatest techniques for managing stress.

Maria Underwood

Strategy Director
Birmingham, AL

Maria has over a decade in nonprofit experience with nonprofits of all sizes. She's worked on grant writing, individual donors, special events and sponsorships, along with having spent time as a marketing director and diving into digital fundraising. She just moved back home to Birmingham, AL after having spent seven years in Washington, DC and when she's not talking to, or about, nonprofits you can find her hiking, teaching Pure Barre classes or planning her next international trip. Maria is a CFRE and has consulted for local, national, and global nonprofits. In particular, she loves digging into how and why donors give, and working with nonprofits to help them show the impact of their mission.

Melissa Kruse

Fundraising Advisor
Eugene, OR

Born and raised in Hawaii, Melissa is a true islander who loves the warmth, the beach, and the ono grindz (delicious food). She currently resides in the Northwest with her husband, two kids, and five ducks (a spontaneous “gift” from her husband). Melissa enjoys cooking, playing guitar, traveling, and DIY projects. In her free time, Melissa is an avid gardener and often works in the garden with her family.

Marlize Adair

Fundraising Advisor
Tampa, FL

Marlize Adair is a native of South Africa and currently lives in Tampa, FL with her family. The picture is of them exploring the Tampa Bay area, visiting St. Petersburg Pier. Prior to joining The Better Fundraising Co team, she worked at a nonprofit in the Tampa Bay area as the Director of Development and Marketing. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood and Family Studies and a Master's degree in Business Administration. When asked about her passion, Marlize said: "I am truly passionate about fundraising and working with nonprofits to develop a strategy that will help them make a bigger impact. It is my goal to help organizations feel confident in their fundraising efforts.”

Sarah Lundberg

Fundraising Advisor
Grand Rapids, MI

Sarah is a lifelong Midwesterner living in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She has been part of the nonprofit world for over 18 years, most recently as Director of Marketing and Communications at an international ministry. She recently earned her Fundraising Management Certificate from North Park University in Chicago. Sarah loves helping organizations see what’s possible when they put proven fundraising practices into place. In her spare time, you can find Sarah searching for unique finds in antique stores, wrangling the cello she’s determined to learn how to play, or trying to keep up with her 100-year-old home.

Mario Galeano

Fundraising Advisor
Houston, TX

As a college freshman, Mario took a job at a local nonprofit and it became clear what his calling was – to help people. Using his experience in design and marketing, he jumped into the fundraising world and has never looked back. Mario is passionate about data-driven fundraising that succeeds and is inspired by organizations that are doing amazing work. When he is not in fundraising mode, you can find him parachuting into Verdansk or simply enjoying life with his wife and three young kids.

McKenzie Mitchell

Fundraising Advisor
Wenatchee, WA

McKenzie has spent most of her career at nonprofits, gathering experience across marketing, communications, annual giving, capital campaigns, public affairs, and most recently donor membership programs at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Her motivation each day is to wake up and help you make the most impact, and raise more money. McKenzie is Northwest through and through – she loves the outdoors, skiing, hiking, and playing in their backyard state park in Wenatchee with her husband Brad, and vizsla Rory.

Mary Combi

Fundraising Advisor
Grand Blanc, MI

Mary, a lifelong Michigander, grew up in Ann Arbor (Go Blue!) and now lives in Grand Blanc. Before joining The Better Fundraising Co team, she held various marketing, communications, and design roles at a national nonprofit for more than 15 years. Mary is passionate about nonprofit visual storytelling and inspiring donors to make a difference. In addition, she loves to travel with her family, teach dance to teens, and further her education.

Jim Shapiro

Co-FounderSeattle, WA

Steven Screen

Co-FounderBainbridge Island, WA

Jonathan Steck

Creative DirectorSeattle, WA