About Us
Mission: To empower faith-based nonprofits to achieve financial sustainability
Vision: To provide the highest quality nonprofit counsel with the utmost integrity
Values:
Approachability (warmth in our interactions),
Integrity (honesty in all we do), and
Excellence (high quality work and extraordinary return on investment)
Meet the Team
Alison L. Finstad, MPA, CFRE
Founder and Principal
Alison has more than 25 years of nonprofit experience, playing integral fundraising roles in local and international nonprofits with budgets spanning $100,000 to $100 million. She started Benezet Advisors to impact exponentially more nonprofits to financial success and sustainability.
Alison has a Master's in Public Administration, a certificate in Marketing from the Simon School of Business, a Bachelor's in Anthropology from University of Rochester, and the Certified Fund Raising Executive designation. Alison is a past executive board member of Association of Fundraising Professionals-Genesee Valley Chapter and provides volunteer fundraising leadership to causes she cares about. She lives in Penfield, NY with her husband, two kids, the dog, and makes training for triathlons a priority.
Olivia Williams
Executive Assistant
Olivia supports the Benezet Advisors team and clients in a variety of ways including administration, IT, and marketing. She received a Bachelors of Business Administration from Francis Marion University and has a background in IT in the finance industry. Olivia thrives when serving others and is inspired to make a difference in the world through supporting a diverse array of nonprofits.
Inspiration and Progenitor
Anthony Benezet is Alison Finstad's eight-times-great-granduncle. Benezet was a French Quaker who lived in Philadelphia in the 1700s. He was a close friend of Benjamin Franklin and worked ceaselessly toward the abolition of slavery and education of people of color. He is also considered the "Father of Philanthropy" in recognition of his boldness in asking presidents and royalty around the world for financial help to free slaves. Alison is proud and humbled to name Benezet Advisors after this exemplary ancestor.
Oprah Magazine mentions Anthony Benezet: Little-Known Black History Facts You May Not Have Learned In School.