James Bender

James Bender has been working in the field of development for over 15 years. James began their career as a consultant for United Way of Buffalo & Erie County, where they worked with various clients on fundraising and marketing projects. In 2008, James became the Executive Director of Hearts and Hands Faith in Action, an organization that provides services to the elderly and disabled. James served in this role for seven years, during which time they oversaw the organization's fundraising efforts and helped it to grow significantly. In 2015, James took on the role of Director of Advancement and Planned Giving at the University at Buffalo (UB). In this role, they are responsible for soliciting gifts from major donors and overseeing the university's fundraising efforts. During their time at UB, James has been successful in securing multiple six and seven-figure commitments and has averaged over $1,000,000 per year for the past three years. In addition to their work at UB, James also serves as the Unit Lead for the Graduate School of Education (GSE). In this role, they work closely with Dean and faculty to secure funding for the school.

James Bender has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Biology from Washington University in St. Louis, a High School Diploma in Regents from Barker Central School, and a Certification in CFRE from CFRE International. James also has a Certification in American Red Cross First Aid Instructor from the American Red Cross and a Certification in Strategies in Crisis Intervention and Prevention from NYS-OMRDD.

Some of their coworkers include Juliann Parker - Administrative Manager Administrative Operations, Jeanne Beiter - Senior Program Manager Ecological Programs, and Margaux Valenti - Legal & Program Advisor. and Dani Priebe - Development Coordinator reports to James Bender. James Bender reports to Jill Spisiak Jedlicka, Executive Director.