My Specializations
Creative Solutions
Leadership
Miller, Calhoun & Company began in 1997, offering not-for-profits professional counsel and interim staffing in fundraising, board development, branding, prospect identification, campaign assessments, and related work. Richard Miller, CFRE was a co-founder of this firm for seven years before Peggy Calhoun, ACFRE became President & CEO. We specialize in the expansion of philanthropic capacity at all levels.
Today, the firm is noted for driving transformational changes via donor-centric development practices having served over 350 clients including health organizations, social service agencies, environmental groups, educational institutions, cultural, and religious organizations. Miller, Calhoun & Company is credited with having been involved in raising over $1,000,000,000 with goals ranging from $1 million to $350 million. Peggy’s extensive branding experience and marketing background supports a variety of other goals that accelerate and elevate revenue initiatives, develops new markets, and strengthens community relations.
Miller, Calhoun & Company is retained on a flat fee, based on time required to achieve mutually agreed upon objectives. We do not accept contingency arrangements, commissions, per centages or bonuses. We abide by the Code of Ethical Principles and Standards of Professional Practices while supporting the Donor Bill of Rights.
“The foundation of any campaign is built upon relationships and reputation. Your investment in us is our partnership committed to quality, growth and ethical leadership. Our campaigns are designed to inspire and educate so that, together, your institution will be elevated to the next level.”
Peggy Calhoun, ACFRE
President & CEO
For over 40 years, Peggy Calhoun has served a variety not-for-profit institutions, NGOs, and grassroots organizations. In 1997, she became the 31st professional to receive the lifetime accreditation of the Advanced Certified Fundraising Executive (ACFRE) – a distinction earned only by 115 colleagues of the 32,000 members of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP).
She began her career in 1978 as Executive Director of a crisis intervention agency serving three states. Her extensive staff professional experience includes raising overseeing a $60 million national campaign for the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation at the University of Miami School of Medicine pre and post Hurricane Andrew, and successfully concluding a capital campaign for The Salvation Army of Broward County, while increasing their endowment from $3 million to $55 million. She has also raised annual, capital and endowment funds for the Boy Scouts of America and United Way.
In 1991, she received the first Outstanding Fund Raising award given by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) - Fort Lauderdale/Broward Chapter. In 1990, Ms. Calhoun was given the Creative Fund Raising Award by the Grantsmanship Center. In 1984, she earned the Professional Staff Certificate from the United Way of America National Academy of Voluntarism. Ms. Calhoun is included in Who's Who of American Women and Who's Who in the World. In 2001, the Association of Women In Communications honored her as the first Woman of the Year in Fund Development and Special Events. She is listed in Who’s Who in America 2020 by their Publications Board.
Previously she taught Grant Writing, Fund Development, Capital Campaigns, Case Writing, and Planned Giving for Nova Southeastern University, Barry University, Rollins College, St. Thomas University, and four nonprofit resource centers. Ms. Calhoun was an initial Leave A Legacy speaker for the National Planned Giving Council. She has lectured nationally and internationally for several organizations. In 1995, she created the nonprofit certification program for Barry University and the Florida Association of Nonprofit Organizations.
Ms. Calhoun is founding member of two Florida AFP Chapters; past President of the Broward Chapter AFP; and past President of the Gulfstream Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. She is a former Board member of the Advisory Board of Florida International University School of Journalism and Mass Communications. She graduated from Southern Illinois University as a Presidential Scholar at the age of 19 after obtaining three undergraduate degrees. In 1994, she was awarded a Master of Arts in Philanthropy and Development from St. Mary's University in Minnesota graduating with a straight 4.0 grade point average. Her recent mission work includes teaching English to youth in Poland and working in Africa’s largest urban slum in Kenya where her volunteer work made her an Honorary Member of the Maasai Tribe.
In recognition of her work to this profession, Ms. Calhoun received the Lifetime Achievement Award given by the Broward AFP Chapter on National Philanthropy Day 2022.
Our firm assigns principals and associates designed to meet the specific needs of our clients.
Peggy Calhoun, ACFRE received the Lifetime Achievement Award.
DIANE BALOGH-KIMES, CFRE
Senior Campaign Associate
As a lifelong resident of South Florida, Diane Balogh Kimes enjoys over 35 years in the philanthropic and communications fields, beginning with the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation at UM School of Medicine. She earned her Certified Fundraising Executive status in 1997 and maintained leadership positions in AFP throughout her career. Ms. Kimes has been affiliated with Miller, Calhoun & Company for over two decades. Expertise includes donor relations, major gifts, and campaigning at all levels.
She has led several capital campaigns: Lee Health System, Broward Health, Jupiter Medical Center Foundation, Elliott Museum, Children’s Museum of the Treasure Coast, Hibiscus Children’s Center, and the Lee Trust for Historic Preservation.
Recently, Ms. Kimes served as executive director of Heathcote Botanical Gardens achieving record attendance and revenue milestones each year. In 2022, she earned her Florida Master Gardener certification.
Throughout her career, Ms. Kimes has been an active member of the Association of Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP), the Association of Fundraising Professionals, and the Planned Giving Council. She served as a presenter at the AHP International Education Conference for AHP, as well as Committee Track Chair for AFP Florida’s Planet Philanthropy. She has served as a grant panelist for the State of Florida Division of Cultural Affairs. Current affiliations include St. Lucie Cultural Alliance and Friends of the Everglades.
Ms. Kimes remains active in the Association of Junior Leagues International as a Sustaining member in Martin County and in the Florida State Public Affairs Committee. Her former volunteer board services include founding secretary of the Susan G. Komen for a Cure, Southwest Florida Affiliate, Lee County Department of Human Services, Martin County Council for the Arts, founding Board President of Friends of High School Lacrosse for Martin County, and President of The Fort Lauderdale Museum of Art’s Contemporaries.
Educated at Florida Atlantic University in business administration, she continues to serve her community serving as a Board member for Zoning Adjustment for the Town of Sewall’s Point.
CLAIRE CRAWFORD, DPA
Senior Grantswriter and Campaign Associate
Dr. Crawford brings many years of successful grant writing experience to the fund development process with the added benefit of solid knowledge in philanthropic studies. Her background is rooted in practice, experience, and teaching. She has obtained millions of dollars in grant funding from federal and state government agencies, private foundations, and corporations for various services and programs specializing in public cultural services and programs and not-for-profit cultural institutions. She has served as an expert reviewer in federal grant competitions and an expert grant proposal reviewer for state and local funding agencies.
Before returning to her hometown of Fort Lauderdale, she was a member of the Florida Department of State and served as Federal Relations Officer for the Office of the Secretary and as Chief Bureau of Statewide Programs for the Division of Cultural Affairs. In both roles, she successfully guided and shaped funding endeavors which dramatically increased support for the Department's Cultural programs as well as the grant programs which funded organizations within the State.
As an adjunct professor at Florida Atlantic University's School of Public Administration, Dr. Crawford developed a Certificate in Arts Administration program curriculum and components for a Master of Nonprofit Management degree. For seven years, she taught courses in Resource Development for Nonprofit Organizations, Fund Development, Arts Policy and Management, Resource Development and Capital Campaigns, and Workshops in Grant Writing.
Previously, Dr. Crawford was Chair of Fund Development for the Fort Lauderdale Historical Society and created an integrated fund development plan, including the Villager Membership Program and the Governor Broward Planned Giving Society. As the Major Gift Officer at Classical South Florida Public Radio, she secured substantial major gifts and created pathways for prospects and donors to build solid connections to the new station.
Her Doctorate in Public Administration concentrated on philanthropy with a dissertation on Corporate Philanthropic Motivation and Belief in Support of the Arts. Both her BA and MFA are in Theatre. Two of her certifications include a Certificate in Fund Raising Management from the Fund Raising School, The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, and a Certificate in Grantsmanship from the Grantsmanship Training Center in Los Angeles, CA.
She is a member of the Association of Fund Raising Professionals, The Junior League of Greater Fort Lauderdale, and a board member of The Opera Society. She has been an appointed member of the Broward Cultural Council since 1989.
STEVE FERSHTMAN
Vice President of Philanthropic Technology
Mr. Fershtman has served the not-for-profit community for 20 years as an expert in leveraging strategic technology applications to fundraising campaigns, marketing, communications initiatives, financial transparency, and volunteer management challenges. His stellar interpersonal communications and analytical skills help clients fulfill their potential through dramatically increased organizational capacity. He began working for the largest CPA firm in Florida – Morrison, Brown, Argiz & Farra, LLP -- serving schools, museums, colleges, and social service agencies. His focus was on marketing initiatives for services in donor management, outsourcing, network integration, accounting, document management, and custom applications.
His recent success has come with organizations such as Adcieo and CharityFinders, national companies that enable organizations to utilize the resources of the internet, where he created social media campaigns, developed technology grant sourcing, and conducted web audits for a variety of national clients, including United Ways, YWCAs, Meals on Wheels, Agencies on Aging, numerous Community Foundations and Habitat for Humanity chapters. Previously, Mr. Fershtman served as the Director of Hospitality Services at Calvary Chapel, Fort Lauderdale, where he managed 450 volunteers for all campus and stadium events and developed Community Outreach initiatives to assist at-risk families.
As a Senior Account Executive at Kintera (now Blackbaud), he created and executed online fundraising strategies resulting in raising millions for a variety of agencies and institutions, including the National Parkinson Foundation, Humane Society of the Treasure Coast, Florida State University, WEDU, Food for the Poor, Emory University and many others. Mr. Fershtman believes in giving back to his community and profession. He serves on the Board of Directors as Development Chair for Operation Rescue, the Children, and as Elder at Calvary Chapel Church. Past service includes the Florida Association of Nonprofit Organizations (FANO), Westminster Academy, and AFP’s Florida Caucus 2010 Planet Philanthropy, where he served as the Technology Track Dean. He enjoys membership in and subscribes to the Code of Ethics of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and the Nonprofit Technology Network (NTEN).
Mr. Fershtman majored in Business Management at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He and his family have resided in Florida for over 30 years with his wife and five children. Their passion is for the care of special needs children.
STEVEN S. KLOTZ, CFRE
Senior Campaign Associate
Mr. Klotz has extensive experience with disability and accessibility issues, including co-founding and serving as Executive Director of Southeastern PA Legal Services for the Deaf, which expanded into serving all persons with disabilities; and (currently) serving as Regional Program Coordinator for Arts4All-Florida, providing, supporting, and championing arts education and cultural experiences for and by people with disabilities in an eight-county area. Arts4All-Florida collaborates with school districts, museums, rehabilitation centers, and numerous service agencies. He has served Miller, Calhoun & Company since its founding in 1997.
Seasoned with 50 years in the not-for-profit sector, he earned his CFRE status in 1990. In his capacity as Senior Campaign Associate, he has served numerous institutions with diverse missions, approaches, and constituencies, including The Salvation Army, Trust for Public Land, Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation, Foster Care Counsel of Southwest Florida, Beauty of Sight Foundation, WestCare Village South, Lighthouse Vision Loss Education Center, Families of Flight 93, YWCA, and several museums.
Mr. Klotz’s strengths include his capacity to meld an organization’s vital components into a compelling action plan, working with principals, volunteers, and prospective donors to achieve mutual objectives. His accomplishments include the creation of a public-interest law firm, providing services for mentally and physically disabled persons, speechwriting, grant writing and public relations activities for political and community activists, and management of numerous capital campaigns, including a $25 million effort for the International Game Fish Association's Fishing Hall of Fame and Museum (IGFA).
As a staff professional, Mr. Klotz has creatively enhanced numerous membership programs by incorporating donor management techniques for a variety of organizations including Special Olympics, the Art and Culture Center of Hollywood, IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame, YMCA of Palm Beach, and the Miramar Cultural Trust.
Earning a BA with honors in philosophy and Elizabethan English from Temple University, Mr. Klotz enjoys a thorough background in literature, public relations, philosophy, and journalism. His expertise and professional experience provide a valuable dimension to professional development teams and not-for-profit entities as they implement their missions in the communities they serve.
In 2011, Mr. Klotz, an avid musician, co-founded Embrace Music Foundation, committed to restoring music and the arts to public education, where he serves as Executive Director.
All organizations need additional funds--annual, capital, endowment and special projects. Campaigns are more than declaring a goal and asking for money; they're part of a cohesive plan that guides your agency's fiscal future. Is your plan formulated, approved, and ready to roll?
For a complimentary consultation, contact us