Bob Shepard

Robert Shepard is a Senior Vice President in the Executive Practice Area at GG+A, where he partners with clients to strengthen their philanthropic programs and processes in a variety of strategic areas. Prior to joining GG+A, Bob served as the Vice President for Development and Alumni Affairs at Duke University for 14 years. He brings more than 40 years of advancement experience to the firm, with expertise in campaign planning and management, advancement program leadership, major and principal gift programs, program analysis, fundraising training, and volunteer management. 

Bob joined Duke in 1995 as the Executive Director of Development and was promoted to Vice President for Development and Alumni Affairs in 2004. In this role, he oversaw a fundraising program that generated more than $500 million in philanthropic revenue annually, and was responsible for strategic planning, budgeting, operations, and management. He also led Duke’s Alumni Association, which serves more than 135,000 members around the world. During his tenure, Bob was instrumental in the success of the University’s major fundraising initiatives, including the $3.85-billion Duke Forward campaign; the $2.36-billion Campaign for Duke; and the Financial Aid Initiative, which raised more than $300 million in new endowment funding. Earlier in his career, Bob held development positions at several universities, and provided oversight to giving programs, campaign planning, and communications teams for institutions such as the University of Pennsylvania and Roosevelt University. 

Bob received his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago, his M.A. from the University of Iowa, and his B.A. from Trinity College.  He has been a guest speaker at professional conferences for the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), and his essay, “How Can a University that Raises a Billion Have a Tight Budget?” was published in The Chronicle of Higher Education. Bob has significant board and volunteer experience, with service on the Durham Academy Board of Trustees and the finance committee of the Collier County Foundation, in Naples, Florida.