Wesley Willmer, Authority on Faith-Based Nonprofits
WINCHESTER, Va., June 22 /
Christian Newswire/ -- Wesley Willmer, Ph.D., has been named senior vice president of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA). Willmer comes to ECFA from founding member Biola University, which is located in La Mirada, Calif.
ECFA is a national accreditation agency with more than 1,400 members – including some of the largest nonprofits in the country – with combined revenues of $16 billion. As senior vice president, Willmer will focus on strategic planning, marketing/communications, resource development, government advocacy and membership development.
"As a national spokesperson, Wes Willmer brings a wealth of practical and conceptual leadership experience to this position," said Dan Busby, president of ECFA. "He has a unique understanding of and passion for the evangelical community, and he is committed to fostering good will among this constituency."
In accepting this position, Willmer stated: "I am very pleased to be able to apply my God-given gifts and experiences on a national level to assist these 1,400 members in becoming more effective in fulfilling their missions."
Prior to accepting the position, Willmer served for 38 years as a professor, researcher and administrator in four higher educational institutions. His longest service was for 19 years as vice president for university advancement at Biola University.
At Biola he led the areas of enrollment management, alumni relations, marketing communications, resource development, athletics, a national radio program and the strategic planning process. During this time, a comprehensive strategic plan was developed, the enrollment more than doubled, the facilities were significantly increased, numerous new programs were started and many awards of national recognition were received.
Wilmer also served at Wheaton College, Roberts Wesleyan College and Seattle Pacific University.
Willmer is often heard on national radio and is responsible for 23 books and many professional journal articles. He has initiated and directed more than $1 million dollars in research grants to study faith-based nonprofit organizations.
His most recent books include "The Prospering Parachurch: Enlarging the Boundaries of God's Kingdom," "God and Your Stuff: the Vital Link between Your Possessions and Your Soul" and "Revolution in Generosity: Transforming Stewards to be Rich toward God."
Wilmer has served in a consulting role to a wide variety of nonprofit organizations. In addition, he has served as a volunteer on numerous boards, including serving for six years as the chairman of the Christian Stewardship Association, founding board member of the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education's (CASE) Commission on Philanthropy, founding board member of the Christian Leadership Alliance (CLA) and most recently vice chairman of the ECFA board.
Willmer received a bachelor of arts degree in psychology and a master of education degree in counseling and guidance from Seattle Pacific University. He received a doctor of philosophy degree in higher education from the State University of New York at Buffalo.
ECFA, founded in 1979, provides accreditation to leading Christian nonprofit organizations that faithfully demonstrate compliance with the ECFA Standards pertaining to financial accountability, fund-raising and board governance. For more information about ECFA, including information about accreditation and a listing of ECFA-accredited members, visit www.ECFA.org or call 1-800-323-9473.
