Gene Brandt is a co-founder of TWB Fundraising. Prior to his work as a consultant, he served in a number of leadership positions in the nonprofit sector, including as president of the Science and Technology Museum of Atlanta, Vice President for Development at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago and Vice President for Development at Lake Forest College. He began his career at his alma mater, Knox College, where he served in the Admissions Office and as Director of Alumni Affairs.
Since helping to establish TWB in 2003, Gene has served a wide variety of clients, both in the Chicago-area and nationally. His Chicago clients have included Lincoln Park Zoo, Lyric Opera of Chicago, WTTW and the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago. Nationally, Gene has served as counsel to organizations as diverse as Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Baltimore Museum of Art, New World Symphony and Zoo Atlanta. He was one of three TW&B consultants selected by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to participate in CPB’s Major Giving Initiative, and served as major-giving counsel to public television stations in Fairbanks, Alaska, Peoria, Illinois and Reno, Nevada among others.
In 2014, Gene relocated his consulting practice to the West Coast. He continued to serve clients around the country and added a diverse group of West Coast clients, including the Bowers Museum, Claremont McKenna College, Claremont School of Theology and SRI International (formerly Stanford Research Institute). In 2020, Gene “semi-retired” from the firm, while still consulting on an occasional basis with clients of special interest and/or affinity.
Gene is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and the Economic Club of Chicago. Previously, he served as a member of the Board of Trustees of McCormick Theological Seminary, Cazenovia College, as an Elder of Central Presbyterian Church in Atlanta and as Vice Chairman of the Board of Public Broadcasting Atlanta.
Gene has two children, both of whom attended Occidental College in Los Angeles, where he served as chair of the Parent’s Council. Today, he lives in Redondo Beach, California, from where he continues his consulting and actively works on his short game.
