Last year, the AB50C Awards honored 50 exceptional leaders. But who are they beyond their roles? We spoke with these leaders to uncover the stories, passions, and perspectives that shape them and what truly sets them apart.

Why He’s a Champion

Tim Hallinan’s career reflects a steady commitment to doing advancement thoughtfully and well. For nearly 20 years at Western Illinois University, he has continually reimagined how the work can evolve, modernizing strategies, strengthening outreach, and helping build the Western Challenge Day of Giving while staying grounded in what matters most: relationships. It’s a legacy shaped over time, rooted in care for alumni, students, and the community, and one that continues to resonate across the institution.

Beyond the Title

When Tim learnt he’d been named an AB50C Champion, his first reaction wasn’t expectation: it was surprise!

Watching the award show, he found himself reflecting less on the recognition and more on the company he was suddenly part of. Being named alongside peers doing meaningful work across advancement felt both flattering and grounding.

What mattered most was the connection that followed, the opportunity to learn from peers, exchange ideas, and grow his network.

And when describing his work, Tim doesn’t lead with campaigns. He talks about people — helping alumni reconnect with a place that shaped them and ensuring students feel supported when they need it most.

“Fundraising is, first and foremost, about relationships.”

What Winning AB50C Meant to Him?

For Tim, the AB50C recognition felt like an acknowledgement of a long arc of evolution.

The award reflected his role as an early adopter of Giving Days, long before they became a common strategy across higher education. Over the years, he’s helped guide Western Illinois University through shifts in technology, communication, and engagement, always with an eye on what would serve the community best.

Being recognized as a Campaign Trailblazer wasn’t about one campaign or one year. It was about staying open to change, refining what works, and continuing to show up with intention.

Finding His Way into Advancement

Tim’s journey into advancement began in the nonprofit sector in 2000, where he worked at a local Big Brothers Big Sisters chapter as the organization’s only employee.

In those early years, he wore every hat: program delivery, event planning, grant writing, and eventually fundraising. As the organization grew, so did its fundraising efforts, including the launch of a direct mail program that helped bring in sustainable revenue.

When his board offered him a choice between continuing in program work or focusing on fundraising, Tim chose the latter, a decision that would shape the rest of his career.

That path led him to Western Illinois University in 2008, where he stepped into the role of Director of Annual Giving and began witnessing, and shaping, the evolution of advancement from traditional methods to digitally driven engagement.

“It’s been fascinating to see how the annual giving effort has evolved and adapted.”

The Work That Matters

Today, Tim oversees annual giving at Western Illinois University, including direct mail, online giving, crowdfunding, Days of Giving, and email outreach.

He also works closely with the Alumni Engagement Center, led by Assistant Director Jenni Lopez, where students connect with alumni through phone calls, texts, and personalized videos, ensuring that even as strategies modernize, human connection remains central. 

What excites Tim most isn’t the scale of the campaigns; it’s the impact behind them. Moments like surprising a student with scholarship support that allows them to stay enrolled serve as constant reminders of why the work matters.

Looking ahead, his focus is on expanding engagement across a database of more than 140,000 alumni, finding ways to deepen connection and impact even with a small, agile team.

“We always try to be early adopters when we can.”

An Initiative He’s Proud Of

Among the initiatives Tim is most proud of are Giving Days, including the Western Challenge and Giving Tuesday.

What makes these efforts stand out isn’t just the funds raised but the sense of shared purpose they create. For one day, alumni, students, faculty, staff, and community members come together to support the institution they care about.

“When alumni come together around a shared sense of community, universities have a responsibility to continue nurturing those connections.”

A Thoughtful Approach to AI

Tim sees real potential in AI, especially when it comes to analyzing data and identifying opportunities for deeper engagement. Used thoughtfully, it can help advancement teams better understand where relationships might begin.

But he’s clear that technology should never replace human connection. Fundraising, at its core, is about stewardship and trust, whether through a phone call, a message, or a personal conversation. For Tim, AI is a powerful tool, but relationships remain the heart of the work.

Rapid Fire

Where It All Comes Together

Tim’s story is a reminder that advancement is built over time, through steady commitment, thoughtful experimentation, and an unwavering focus on people.

His journey reflects the heart of Humans of Advancement: professionals who evolve with the field, stay grounded in impact, and never lose sight of why the work matters in the first place.

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