Ben Porter
Principal Gift Strategy for Higher Education | Founder, Principal Gift Strategies LLC | Author, The Principal Gift Checklist (CASE)
- Role
- Founder at Principal Gift Strategies Llc
- Location
- Evanston, IL, US
- LinkedIn followers
- 500 followers
About Ben Porter
Over 22 years in higher education advancement, Ben Porter has helped universities secure transformational gifts, lead nine-figure campaigns, and build the institutional ecosystems that consistently foster $5M+ philanthropy.Drawing on research conducted over eight years with 26 universities — and extensive front-line principal gift experience — he developed the Principal Gift Checklist, a widely used, data-informed framework dedicated exclusively to principal and transformational gifts. Adopted by institutions across higher education and applied internationally, the framework brings disciplined, evidence-based structure to what has often been treated as an art.Ben’s work focuses on aligning leadership, sequencing engagement, and strengthening the trust-building practices that precede extraordinary generosity. The result is not only larger gifts, but gifts that are central to institutional strategy and long-term impact.
Experience
Founder
Nov 2025 — Present · Evanston, IL, US
Helping universities secure transformational principal gifts by equipping advancement teams with practical, research-based fundraising strategy.
Education
Princeton University
AB, English Literature and Fiction Writing
1994 — 1998
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