“We have a strategic plan. It’s called ‘doing things.’”
I always tell my clients the real value in me is that I can get a year ahead of you, see where there’s a pothole in the road, and figure out how you don’t fall into it. That’s what I do. – Shep Gordon
Cardinal Strategic Services was founded on a simple belief: a consultant’s job is to immerse with immediacy, assess honestly, build a strategic plan you can actually execute, secure the resources to fund it, forge the right community connections, drive results — and then step back. We’re not in the business of enabling. We’re in the business of abling.
Action speaks louder than words, and our proof isn’t a pitch deck — it’s the work itself, and the long-term relationships and friendships we’ve built across this community. People are our passion, and it shows.
Tim Rogers founded Cardinal on a frustration he’d seen too often firsthand: companies — and their consultants — move at a crawl, talking more than doing. Twenty-plus years working both sides of that equation shaped his get-down-to-business model. Cardinal’s focus is bringing real strategy to an organization’s philanthropic efforts, grounded in a hard truth: vision without funding is just a wish list.
Tim brings a track record measured in results, not promises. He’s a numbers guy and a word lover in equal measure — a linguist who never loses sight of the bottom line. He’s also one of the most genuinely connected people in the community, not because he networks, but because he’s truly invested in the missions and people he meets. He connects dots — and people — to build relationships that benefit everyone involved.
Planning. Coaching. Implementing. Connecting. These are the four pillars of every Cardinal partnership — and the foundation of every client’s success.
Ready to stop talking and start doing? Let’s talk.
Consulting Practice
Cardinal Strategic Services/Capstone Advancement Partners
Tim Rogers has spent his career directing organizational and fund development initiatives for charitable institutions across the Southeast, working alongside client organizations on everything from fundraising assessments and feasibility studies to full campaign planning and execution. His work has helped secure major gift commitments at the five-, six-, and seven-figure level, often through direct engagement with institutional leaders and key volunteers at the table. Beyond fundraising strategy, Tim has counseled governing boards and committees on institutional advancement and philanthropic trends, and has served as a trusted advisor on brand, messaging, and public communications — particularly for newly forming organizations and those navigating mission revitalization. That range of experience spans the following organizations he’s served, among numerous others not listed here:
Pfeiffer University
Covenant Health LeConte
Dolly Parton Center for Women’s Services
Mississippi Baptist Health
Winterfield Community Garden
The Foundation for Tomorrow
The First Tee of Charlotte
Providence United Methodist Church
Park Road Baptist Church
Trinity Episcopal School
Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte
YWCA of Charlotte
Charlotte Lit
Eagles Nest
Wildacres Leadership Initiative
Crisis Assistance Ministry
Organizational Service
Queens University of Charlotte / Elon University – Queens Campus,
Associate Vice President for Advancement & Senior Philanthropic Strategist
University of North Carolina – Charlotte,
Senior Director of Development
University of North Carolina – Wilmington,
Assistant Vice Chancellor, Major Gifts
Aldersgate UMRC, Inc.
Director of Mission Advancement
Professional Experience:
Institutional Advancement
University of North Carolina – Charlotte
Charlotte, N.C.
March 2011 to December 2014
Director of Development, College of Education
Evaluated and reset the College of Education’s $10 million Looking Forward capital and endowment campaign; closed $5 million gift to name the College, in addition to several major gifts to complete the campaign.
Built a constituency development program.
Redefined the roles and responsibilities of the College’s Board of Advisors.
Provided consulting to Dean McIntyre on leadership strategies and internal and external decisions, including crisis management.
Worked with the College of Education on developing a five year strategic plan (2015-2020).
Reinvigorated the development office, including developing key communications activities.
Professional Experience:
Organizational Development Consultant
Charlotte, N.C.
1997 - present
Directs organizational development initiatives for a broad spectrum of charitable organizations in healthcare, education, human services and arts and culture.
Counsels governing boards, committees and task forces on organizational leadership and institutional advancement, particularly involving integration of structure and strategy.
Provides successful leadership in securing major gift commitments, including direct participation in the fundraising process with institutional leaders and key volunteers.
A gifted writer, consults on brand, messaging and PR efforts.
Develops new assessment tools and plan designs to determine organizations’ readiness for major gifts efforts.
Professional Experience:
Institutional Advancement
Mercer University Macon, Ga./Atlanta, Ga.
May 1994 to June 1997
Executive Director of the Advancing the Vision Capital Campaign
Key member of Institutional Advancement team responsible for directing the chief fundraising initiatives of Mercer's $125 million Advancing the Vision: Phase I capital and endowment campaign.
Worked with the university’s senior administration, board and campaign leadership in implementing appeals to diverse donor.
Provided campaign training for development officers, records and research staff.
Worked with University Relations team to coordinate internal and external communications.
Designed and planned annual donor conferences and campaign retreats.
Education
North Carolina State University, Raleigh, N.C. Scholars of the College Program
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, N.C. B.A. in Political Science
John Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md., Graduate Fellowship in Political Strategy