Brad Layland, CEO of The FOCUS Group, began his fundraising journey in 1993 as a college student raising support for Young Life. Over 20 years with the organization, he became Chief Development Officer, training leaders and refining his expertise in relational fundraising.
Joining The FOCUS Group in 2009, Brad became CEO in 2010 and launched the Taking Donors Seriously® program in 2013 to make fundraising tools accessible to smaller nonprofits. He has led campaigns for organizations like Dallas Theological Seminary ($250M), InterVarsity ($89M), and The Bowery Mission ($27M).
Brad holds a B.A. in Communications from the University of Florida and an M.A. in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Wendy, live in St. Augustine, Florida, and have four children. A seasoned athlete, Brad has completed 65 marathons and two Ironman Triathlons.
Brad also founded Endless Summer Realty, St. Augustine’s largest real estate brokerage, and co-founded Veritas Classical School. He initiated St. Augustine’s Giving Day, helping nonprofits raise over $2.5M. His entrepreneurial ventures have deepened his understanding of major donor generosity.
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