Michael Bussey
Senior Consultant
Michael Bussey comes to Donor By Design following a terrific 37 year YMCA career with three great YMCA associations, including: the YMCA of Greater St. Paul, the Jerusalem International YMCA and the YMCA of the USA. He brings a passion for the YMCA’s mission into all that he does, as well as a deep understanding of the importance of effectively connecting the YMCA’s mission to philanthropic support.
From 2000-2008, Mike served as the YMCA of the USA’s Financial Development Consultant to over 350 YMCAs in 14 Midwest states. Through a combination of consulting and training he has encouraged and inspired YMCA volunteers and staff not only to commit to financial development best practices, but also to do so with an enthusiasm that comes out of the understanding that fund raising is as much about mission as it is about money.
Following high school and college summers in YMCA camps, Mike’s career with the YMCA started with the YMCA of Greater Saint Paul where he worked as a Program Director and Branch Executive before serving as the Association’s Vice President for Financial Development and, eventually, as Vice President for Operations. Mike directed eight association annual campaigns, all of which significantly surpassed their goals, as well as highly successful capital and endowment development programs.
Following 17 years in St. Paul and a two year YMCA World Service commitment with the YMCA in Nazareth, Israel, Mike served as the Director General of the Jerusalem International YMCA, (JIY) the only YMCA of the USA association located outside the United States. During his tenure, Mike secured the two largest gifts ever received by the JIY and the YMCA was nominated for the Nobel Peace prize for its historic work in creating peaceful coexistence in the Middle East.
Mike provides counsel for:
- Annual Campaign Assessment and Development
- Endowment Development
- Capital Campaign Feasibility
- Campaign Case Development
- Development Staff Coaching
- Board and Volunteer Development
Mike is a YMCA Senior Director and has served on the NAYDO Council (North American YMCA Development Organization) as well as having been Y-USA’s representative to NAYDO. He is a YMCA financial development faculty and is recognized as one of the leading financial development trainers in the YMCA movement. He has provided extensive leadership for YMCA camping including having served as the National Chairman for YMCA World Camp ‘88 and as coordinator of the annual YMCA Camping Symposium on Financial Development. He has been a keynote speaker at numerous YMCA conferences and annual meetings, as well as at the 1991 YMCA World Council in Seoul, Korea.
Mike and his wife Marcia are originally from Minneapolis/St. Paul, have lived in the Middle East for ten years (Nazareth and Jerusalem) and are currently living in Wheaton, IL. They are both graduates of Gustavus Adolphus College (St. Peter, MN) where in 1988 Mike was recognized as a Distinguished Alumni in International Relations. Marcia teaches high school math and coaches boys and girls tennis at St. Francis High School. They are both very involved with Glen Ellyn Evangelical Covenant Church, Mike having recently completed a term as Chair of the Leadership Team. They have three boys and one great daughter-in-law, all of whom have traveled and studied extensively abroad. Mike and Marcia are outdoor enthusiasts and especially enjoy canoeing, biking, tennis and skiing, as well international travel.
202 E Farnham Lane
Wheaton, IL 60189
630.710.8467
mike@donorbydesign.com
