Endowment / Major Gifts
WHAT WE DO: The goal of your team of Endowment/Major Gift Advisers is to support/assist districts in fund development for The Rotary Foundation, specifically major gifts and bequests. We work collaboratively with TRF Major Gifts Officers, RRFCs, Area of Focus Major Gifts Initiative committees, and district leaders in identification, cultivation, solicitation, and donor stewardship.
HOW WE CAN HELP: Your Endowment/Major Gifts Advisers support/assist districts in developing fundraising committees and identifying strategies for encouraging major gifts, planned gifts, and bequest commitments. We do this through on-site training of district teams, support of district initiatives, events, and interaction with individual donors within the districts.
Tom Walker | Endowment / Major Gift Adviser
Tom is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy with a degree in Naval Architecture; he retired from the Navy after serving 23 years in the nuclear submarine force.
He joined Rotary in 1997 and was the 2007-2008 President of the Rotary Club of Albuquerque. Tom was the 2009 D5520 Newcomer of the Year, the 2010 District 5520 Rotarian of the Year and received the 2013 District 5520 Service Above Self award. He was the 2017 D5520 District Leader of the Year. He has served as Rotary District 5520 Foundation Chair for the years 2010-13, 2016-17 and 2019-21 as well as having served in many other Foundation-related positions over the years.
Tom served District 5520 as Governor 2015-16 and as 2016-17 & 2018-19 & 2021-22 Vice Governor. He was Assistant Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator 2017-2020 and is Zone 26 Endowment/Major Gifts Adviser. Tom is a recipient of Rotary’s Service Above Self Award and The Rotary Foundation’s Citation for Meritorious Service. He represented D5520 at the 2016 Zone 27 Nominating Committee and represents D5520 at the 2019 & 2022 Councils on Legislation.
He is a member of the Arch Klumph Society of The Rotary Foundation as well as a Clinton P. Anderson Fellow and Guardian Society member of the Albuquerque Rotary Charitable Foundation. He is a recipient of the Rotary Club of Albuquerque’s Lifetime Service Award. Tom is a nine-year counselor at District 5520 Boys’ Rotary Youth Leadership Award camp and is a facilitator for District 5520’s Rotary Leadership Institute.
Assigned Districts: 5000, 5170, 5220, 5230, 5240, 5280, 5300, 5320, 5330, 5340, 5450, 5470, 5495, 5500, 5520, 5730
Steve Lewis | Endowment / Major Gift Adviser
Steve will tell you that mentoring Rotary Clubs to become Bigger, Better and Bolder is one of his passions.
He joined Rotary in 1995 and served as president of his then 118member Carson City, Nevada club that was later recognized as Club of the Year!
Steve served District 5190 as Governor in 2010-2011 and later as their DRFCC during the successful transition years of ‘Future Vision’. Steve remains active in various leadership roles on the Rotary Zone Institute committee and continues to serve as faculty for both GNATS & GETS and numerous ‘Big West’ PETS. Additionally, he’s previously served as Zone 27’sRegional Rotary Foundation Coordinator(‘RRFC’)and is looking forward to serving another 3-year assignment as Zone 27’s Endowment/Major Gifts Adviser, or, ‘E/MGA’.
A charter member of both District 5190’s Paul Harris Society and ‘Triple Crown’ Donors, Steve and his wife Ginny are both Major Donors and members of our Foundation’s Bequest Society. Steve is the proud recipient of The Rotary Foundation’s Citation for Meritorious Service in recognition of his ongoing commitment to educate fellow Rotarians on unique ways to Make Dreams Real through the various programs of our Foundation, which he fondly calls our legacy of hope!
Steve is the ‘active’ owner of Sterling Air, Ltd., an aviation company based in Carson City, NV that specializes in the sales, service and management of various types of personal and corporate jet aircraft
Assigned Districts: 5020, 5030, 5080, 5100, 5110, 5130, 5150, 5160, 5180, 5190, 5390, 5400, 5420, 5440