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McPherson College Hires New VP for Advancement to Lead Fundraising

McPherson College is excited to welcome Roger Brimmerman as its new vice-president for advancement, starting May 1.

Brimmerman is filling a critical role for MC, as he leads the college’s fundraising and campaign efforts – including the current $14 million “Power the Future” comprehensive campaign. He brings about two decades of leadership and fundraising experience to the position, with more than half of that in higher education.
“Roger is a welcome addition to our community. I think he will connect well with our constituents and provide strong leadership in advancement,” said Michael Schneider, President of McPherson College. “McPherson College has a great legacy of giving and we expect Roger to continue this tradition as we focus on building our endowment.”

Most recently, Brimmerman has served as the associate vice president for development at Judson University in Elgin, Ill., from 2013 until the present. At Judson, he designed, implemented and managed the university’s $43.5 million Shaping Lives Campaign and served as the lead Major Gift Officer. He increased donor participation and the amount each donor gave, and secured six- and seven-figure gifts for Judson.

Before Judson, Brimmerman was director of development for Concordia University in Seward, Neb., from 2007 to 2013. In Concordia, he managed a $63 million campaign, and planned and managed all aspects of the university’s annual fund and planned giving program. He took the annual fund to an all-time fiscal year high and raised planned giving pledges from $43 million to $63 million.

Before entering the realm of higher education, Brimmerman held leadership positions with Mid-America Council Boy Scouts of America in Omaha, Neb., from 1997 to 2003, culminating with the Nebraska Team field director. He primarily worked in fundraising, products sales, increasing membership and endowment, and recruiting volunteers. He successfully exceeded fundraising and membership goals in four years and increased volunteer participation all six years.

He also served in leadership positions for a variety of automotive and manufacturing companies in Fremont and Omaha, Neb., from 1979 to 1997, while also serving in the United States Army Reserves as a Sergeant and seeing service in Operation Desert Storm.

He has led as chair or served on boards of multiple service and leadership organizations, including the Association of Lutheran Development Executives, Kiwanis, and the Fremont Area Philanthropy Group. The Mid-America Council of Boy Scouts of America named him Executive of the Year in 1999 and he was a Regional and National Distinguished Executive in Boy Scouts of America in 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2002.

“I am very excited about coming to McPherson College as the next vice president of advancement,” Brimmerman said. “I am looking forward to being a part of the campus and McPherson communities and meeting all of the constituents who have been part of the great legacy and culture of giving here at MC. It is that legacy and culture that excites me about coming to MC.”