Looking for your next conference speaker? Look no further.
I am a career fundraiser with over 14 years of experience in the faith-based and social-service sectors, and I've been leading fund development teams since 2019.
(Yes, only six months before COVID was officially a thing.)
Because my management experience was almost immediately forged in the fires of a years-long global health crisis, I have learned — A LOT — about myself and the commitment leadership truly requires.
Today, I motivate teams by creating spaces of belonging. And I’ve leveraged my inner weirdo to master the art of leading authentically and effectively.
I have opinions about leadership, and apparently people keep inviting me to share them out loud. Over the years I've had the opportunity to present, write, and generally make my case — at conferences, in webinars, in print — about what it actually looks like to lead with joy, belonging, curiosity, and gratitude.
Some of it has been about fundraising. Some of it has been about culture. All of it has been about people — and that's the point.
WHY YOU SHOULD BOOK ME
I talk about leadership in a way that makes people feel seen — and occasionally makes conference organizers nervous. 😏😏😏
If you host a podcast, run a publication, or organize programs and conferences for nonprofit professionals who are probably (definitely) tired of the same polished talking points, I'm your person.
Things I love yapping about ("professionally," of course) include
- Irresistible, joy-filled team cultures — and how to build them
- The reality of belonging and psychological safety as ubiquitous needs in the workplace
- The importance of distinguishing between leadership/management skills and technical skills
- How performative professionalism can go take a long walk off a short pier
Send all speaker and writer requests to bri@oddballleadership.com.
MY (SOFT, PUDGY) BODY OF WORK
Here's some of my work in the wild:
PRESENTATIONS
Presenter, “Leading with Love: How Joy, Belonging, Gratitude, Appreciation, and Curiosity Make Fundraising Magic Happen” (AFP Global LEAD Conference, October 2025)
Presenter, “Enter the Donor Matrix for Strategic and Intentional Connections” (AFP St. Louis, April 2025)
Presenter, "God's Word: Where Faith and Fundraising Meet" (ACF Faith & Fundraising Conference, March 2023)
Presenter, "Inspiring Their Second Contribution with a New Donor Welcome Kit" (YNPN STL Symposium, March 2022)
PODCASTS
Guest, "Building Trust and Belonging: Transforming Nonprofit Fundraising Teams with Bri Gerzevske" (Let's Talk Fundraising, January 2025)
Guest, "Leading Ladies: Bri Gerzevske, Oddball Leader" (The Lutheran Ladies' Lounge from KFUO Radio, March 2026)
INTERVIEWS
"Can I Ask You Something? Vol. 8" (Harlow Nonprofit Consulting, June 2026)
ARTICLES
Author, "Care, NOT Cake: Nonprofit Leadership’s Hardest Lesson" (Nonprofit Hive Blog, June 2025)
Co-author, "Top 12 Nonprofit Fundraising Tips for the Summer" (Mike Esposito Fundraising Newsletter, June 2025)
WEBINARS
Panelist, "Reframing the Nonprofit Narrative: Telling the Real Story of Impact" (The Nonprofit Hive, January 2026)
Panelist, "Mission Accepted: Conveying Your Nonprofit's Mission to New Supporters" (NXUnite Webinar, June 2023)
Panelist, "A Tight-Knit Community: Best Practices for Faith-Based Organizations" (NXUnite Webinar, May 2023)
Panelist, "New Year, New Donors: Finding, Engaging, and Retaining New Donors" (NXUnite Webinar, January 2023)