Do Great Work

Helping mission-focused businesses and organizations do great work.

A B O U T

Thomas Bruner, Principal

From CEO of a scrappy start up in Texas, to Vice President with the nation’s largest humanitarian organization in Washington, D.C., to volunteer at a Buddhist temple in Portland, Oregon, Thomas Bruner has been helping businesses do great work for decades. Across the country, Bruner has successfully built and strengthened organizations, mobilized communities to respond to critical issues and needs, and marshalled the resources of the public, private, and social sectors.

A nationally recognized leader, Bruner brings a wealth of experience to his work, including years of executive-level leadership, a master’s degree in clinical psychology, a diversity management certificate from Cornell University, numerous awards and recognition, and an impressive portfolio of civic volunteer engagement.

“Helping businesses and organizations be resilient, healthy, impactful, and efficient – this is great work.” 

The Bruner Strategies Advantage

Experienced

Our team doesn’t just facilitate or advise. We’ve built organizations. Run businesses. Turned around institutions.

Successful

We have measurable results to show for how we’ve strengthened and advanced organizations.

Broad-Based

Bruner’s team has worked in and with an array of organizations – big and small, private and public, corporate and nonprofit.

National and Global

The Bruner Strategies team has worked down the street, across the country, and around the globe.

Recognized

Our team has been honored with awards and accolades from peers, the press, and the community.

Strategic

We are strategists and systems thinkers – skilled in seeing how the parts shape, connect to, and influence the whole.

Forward-Thinking

Bruner Strategies is innovative – skilled at seeing beyond today to where organizations are headed and need to go.

Results-Focused

We focus on results. We understand the difference between process and outputs, and impact and outcomes.

Engaging

Our team isn’t just smart, we’re skilled facilitators – energetic, engaging, personable, and motivating.

S E R V I C E S

Practice Areas

GOVERNANCE & LEADERSHIP

 

My dad was a true leader and defied one stereotype of aging. The older he got, the more open and intellectually curious he became. Quicker to say, “I don’t know,” “I made a mistake,” or “I never thought about it that way.” When he died at 87, he was a great example of a lifelong learner.

Governance.  Bruner Strategies has extensive experience in governance, having worked with over 200 boards of directors — from corporations to nonprofits, and from small start-ups to large established institutions. They offer broad expertise and deep understanding of governance practices, stakeholder engagement, and how different types of organizations operate across various sectors.

Good governance is the backbone of thriving, sustainable, and ethical businesses and organizations. It ensures that decisions are made responsibly, risks are managed effectively, and the interests of all stakeholders are considered. By promoting transparency, accountability and integrity, good governance helps build a resilient organization that is well-positioned for long-term success and positive impact.

Bruner Strategies helps business and organizations strengthen their Boards of Directors through individually-tailored strategies for each client in the following areas:

  • Governance assessments
  • Corporate bylaws and job descriptions
  • Committee charters and structure
  • Strategic recruitment and onboarding
  • CEO and Board relations
  • CEO performance evaluation
  • Meeting planning and management
  • Annual governance evaluations

Leadership.  Bruner and his partners have been leaders, and worked extensively with leaders, for many years. Their expertise spans the leadership spectrum, from volunteer board chairs, CEOs, executive directors, elected officials, faith community leaders, and more. In addition to current leaders, Bruner’s team has worked with people who aspire to be leaders.

Leadership is more than a title or position. It’s often a mix of professional and personal qualities, skills and behaviors that inspire others to follow and work toward a common goal, including vision; empathy and emotional intelligence; integrity; adaptability; decisiveness; communication skills; empowerment; resilience and perseverance; humility; and accountability.

Bruner Strategies helps current and future leaders be skillful, impactful and effective. They offer individually-tailored strategies for each client in the following areas:

  • Executive Coaching
  • Skills Assessment
  • Communication Skills
  • Conflict Management
  • Professional Development
  • Career Pathing
  • Lifelong Learning
  • Mindfulness

Half of what I know I learned from my successes. The other half I learned from my failures. I think that’s true for all of us. As leaders, inspiring others to be innovative, creative, curious, lifelong learners includes helping them learn how to fail well.

I come from a family of Type A’s. Busy, results-focused, achievement-oriented, over-extended. As a result, I’ve done a lot and gotten a lot done as a leader. But when I became a Buddhist, I began to understand the difference between leading decisively and leading mindfully.

The simplest tools can be the hardest. I’ve been a Buddhist for 23 years and spent a year living at my Buddhist temple. And still, mindfulness in any given moment is not easy. But over time, moments of mindfulness can help us learn to act and lead more skillfully, thoughtfully and kindly.

FINANCIAL DEVELOPMENT

 

I got into non-profit work to change the world. But when I became Executive Director of a poorly funded start-up at the age of 26, I learned that my passion for changing the world would go a lot farther if I learned how to raise money.

Bruner Strategies has helped organizations across the country raise more than $400 million to advance their missions and change the world. With decades of experience as CEOs, executives, board members, volunteers and donors, the team brings a strategic, donor-centric, results-oriented approach to organizations on all points of the development continuum.

Fundraising isn’t just about collecting money; it’s about creating a solid foundation for an organization’s growth, ensuring it can fulfill its mission, and fostering a long-term community of engaged supporters. Whether for a start-up, an established institution, or a community initiative, fundraising plays a fundamental role in achieving both short- and long-term goals.

Bruner’s team helps organizations assess their current development efforts, and create or refine their strategies and programs for greater fundraising success. They offer individually-tailored strategies for each client in the following areas:

  • Development Assessments and Audits
  • Board Development and Training
  • Board and Executive Coaching
  • Foundation Programs
  • Government Grants
  • Major Gifts
  • Planned Gifts
  • Corporate Giving
  • Special Events
  • Crowdfunding

Bruner Strategies also helps organizations develop the tools and systems necessary for effective fundraising, including:

  • Case Statements
  • Organizational Narratives
  • Project Budgets
  • Measurable Outcomes
  • Prospect Research
  • Communication Plans
  • Marketing Materials
  • Tracking Systems
  • Implementation Plans

At the end of the day, development is about relationships. It’s about helping people connect their interests, values and passions with opportunities to invest in strategies that can change the world. That’s great work.

INCLUSION & BELONGING

My mom taught school in a tough, poor Latino district in San Antonio, Texas. She was passionate about the inequities her kids faced every day – at home, in the streets, and in the classroom. She taught me to be passionate about inequity, too.

Bruner Strategies has been on the front lines of advancing equity and inclusion for decades. More than just good social policy, Bruner’s team approaches inclusion as a business imperative in an increasingly multicultural country and world – key to being responsive, relevant, effective and competitive.

Bruner and his team help businesses and organizations position themselves for a rapidly changing world, leveraging inclusion as strategies to improve, leaving them better equipped to:

  • recruit and retain the best workforce talent
  • be creative, innovative and intellectually curious
  • adapt quickly to emerging financial and social trends
  • communicate with and market to growing communities
  • deliver products and services effectively to consumers
  • get, keep and grow loyalty of customers, clients and donors

Bruner’s team works with organizations to develop cultural responsiveness, competency and agility – going beyond training by embedding concepts of inclusion into the way they do business at every level. They offer individually-tailored strategies for each client in the following areas:

  • Organizational Assessments and Audits
  • Governance and Policy
  • Talent Acquisition and Development
  • Team-Building and Conflict Resolution
  • Communications and Marketing
  • Products and Services Development
  • Culturally Competent Service Delivery
  • Supplier and Vendor Engagement

Businesses and organizations today have an opportunity to be more, do more and grow with this increasingly complex, multicultural world. The opportunities are enormous and exciting. This is great work.

E N D O R S E M E N T S

What People Are Saying

  • “Thomas Bruner is a big thinker. While at Komen, he was a fierce advocate for the Latina Initiative. His leadership secured the donation of over 2,400 mammograms, follow-up diagnostic care, and cancer treatment for uninsured Latinas through Kaiser Permanente Northwest. Thomas excels at leveraging relationships and resources to accomplish a goal.”

    Dr. Gloria Coronado
    Dr. Gloria Coronado Senior Investigator for Disparities, Kaiser Center for Health Research | Board Member, Susan G. Komen Oregon
  • “As Vice President of Diversity at the American Red Cross, Thomas was an innovative and passionate leader. He pioneered the expansion of national programming for diversity and inclusion, and created employee resource groups with over 1,000 participants. He raised the profile of diversity and improved engagement with our staff.”

    Peggy Dyer
    Peggy Dyer Chief Marketing Officer, American Red Cross | Vice President of Marketing, Strategy & Planning, Allstate Insurance | Vice President of Marketing, Citibank North America
  • “I’ve known Thomas Bruner for over 25 years, working with him in many capacities. Thomas brings thoughtfulness and passion to all his work. I have been particularly impressed with his skills in development. He knows how to create an effective fundraising program, and is also an excellent teacher and coach.”  

    Terry Stone
    Terry Stone Executive Director, CenterLink | Executive Director, Northwest AIDS Foundation | Executive Director, Oak Lawn Community Services | President, Texas AIDS Network
  • “I have worked with and have been witness to the dedicated work of Thomas Bruner for the past 18 years. Thomas has a unique and remarkable skill in optimizing organizational alignment and outcome strategies, getting the entity – and the individuals from top leadership to volunteer level – to focus and actualize their mission and business goals.”

    Sharon LaCroix Kitzhaber
    Sharon LaCroix Kitzhaber BonVie Weight Loss & and Nutritional Wellness | First Lady, State of Oregon
  • “Thomas Bruner brought diversity to American Red Cross in every way. He insured that we benefited from a thorough understanding of diversity practices, and the positive bottom-line impact of their implementation. As a fundraiser, Thomas was exceptional in helping Board members identify and leverage their connections on behalf of our organization. He is creative and strategic in building development strategies that work.”

    Maree Wacker
    Maree Wacker CEO, De Paul Treatment Centers | CEO, American Red Cross Oregon | Executive Director, Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon Foundation
  • “At Cascade AIDS Project, Thomas Bruner transformed a grassroots organization into a strong, highly-respected nonprofit – and diversified its reach to underserved communities. At Susan G. Komen Thomas personally secured $1 million in state funds for breast cancer screening. His commitment to access and political savviness benefited thousands of women. Working with Thomas has been inspirational and fulfilling. I have learned from him, and I value his opinion and ideas.”

    Kristin Kane
    Kristin Kane Breast Cancer Program Manager, Oregon Health Authority | Deputy Director, Cascade AIDS Project
  • “I’ve worked with Thomas Bruner for years. He’s a smart, strategic, innovative and visionary leader. He’s also an accomplished fundraiser, leading Cascade AIDS Project, Red Cross and Susan G. Komen to greater fundraising success. And Thomas is a champion for diversity. He has led transformation at majority-culture organizations, helping them become far more diverse, equitable and inclusive at every level.”

    Shelli Romero
    Shelli Romero Area Manager, Oregon Department of Transportation | President, Rose City Chica, LLC | Oregon Government Ethics Commission | Portland Parks & Recreation Board
  • "In every interaction I had with Thomas Bruner, I experienced a refreshing and rare combination of a results-oriented team member and a warm-hearted leader.  Thomas brings passion and compassion into everything he does, while also weaving humor and fun into it all.  Whenever I’d look at my calendar and see a meeting with Thomas, I knew it was going to be a great day."

    Charley Shimanski
    Charley Shimanski President & CEO, Mount Evans Home Health Care & Hospice | Senior Vice President, Disaster Services, American Red Cross | President & CEO, Colorado Nonprofit Association
  • Thomas Bruner is a great advocate, connector, leader and fundraiser. He has taken me with him everywhere he’s gone, and I’ve followed. Because of his vision and savvy, I chaired AIDS Walk at Cascade AIDS Project, served on his advisory board at Red Cross, cheered him on at Susan G. Komen, and became a funder of the campaign he led at Dharma Rain Zen Center.”

    Sho Dozono
    Sho Dozono CEO, Azumano Travel/American Express | Chair, Spirit Mountain Community Fund | Chair, Portland Business Alliance | Trustee, Portland State University
  • "Thomas Bruner is a visionary, innovator and thought leader. Early in the HIV epidemic, he saw the emerging disparities in African Americans. He mobilized our community’s Black leaders, opened an office in the historically Black part of our city, and hired me to develop culturally-specific programming. He was an amazing boss and caring mentor, and inspires me still today."

    Krystal James
    Krystal James Diversity Outreach Coordinator, AIDS Outreach Center | Precinct Administrator, Tarrant County Commissioners Court | Special Projects Manager, Tarrant County College
  • “As our Vice President, Thomas Bruner pulled together an exceptionally diverse group of smart, accomplished, strong-willed leaders across the Northeast into a team. Together, we reduced our large operating deficit by 60%, exceeded our nationally-assigned fundraising target of $17 million, strategized and innovated across state boundaries, and became a model for other divisions nationally. During a time of extraordinary change at Red Cross, Thomas led with creativity, consensus-building and, when appropriate, the ability to make tough decisions."

    Dianne Auger
    Dianne Auger President & CEO, St. Vincent’s Medical Center Foundation | Senior Vice President & Chief Strategy Officer, St. Vincent’s Health Services | CEO, American Red Cross Connecticut, Rhode Island and NYC
  • “Thomas Bruner is a man of instinctive generosity and integrity. He has a wealth of ideas and energy and genuinely loves to make the world a better - and more efficient - place. Thomas brought new energy and ideas to our temple's stalled fundraising campaign. Within months, we exceeded our goal by 35%.”

    Sallie Tisdale
    Sallie Tisdale Author | Nurse, Providence Health & Services | Senior Lay Teacher, Dharma Rain Zen Center
  • “Thomas Bruner is one of the most accomplished and inspirational leaders I know. He stands out not only for his vast range of experience, but for his pragmatic approach. Thomas is a visionary who knows how to make things happen, turning around stagnant and troubled organizations and growing them into thriving community resources. He has been an inspiration and valued source of guidance for me and many other leaders.”

    Roey Thorpe
    Roey Thorpe Director of Advocacy Programs, Equality Federation | Executive Director, Basic Rights Oregon | Mayor, City of Ithaca, New York
  • “Under Thomas’ leadership, AIDS Outreach Center’s Board became one of the most respected, collaborative and influential in our region. Together, we mobilized media, funders, elected officials and partners across our county to become engaged, take action and rally with us in the fight against HIV. Our community rose to the challenge and, as a result, our collective impact became a model for others nationally.”

    Rosie Mauk
    Rosie Mauk Board President, AIDS Outreach Center | Director, AmeriCorps | Associate Director, Peace Corps
  • “Thomas Bruner brings passion, dedication and commitment to everything he does. In Fort Worth, he was an amazing community force, building bridges and easing fears and stereotypes as he grew AIDS Outreach Center into a highly-respected and powerful organization. Thomas went on to successfully tackle other challenges across the country. People in Fort Worth still remember his impact, his talent, and his vision.”

    Lydia Saldaña
    Lydia Saldaña Communications Director, Texas Parks and Wildlife | News Reporter, WFAA-TV Dallas | News Reporter, KTBC-TV Austin
  • “Thomas’ commitment to improving Cascade AIDS Project’s cultural competence was effective! Nothing was left untouched – policies, procedures, staff biases, community partnerships were examined through an equity lens. Thomas led our efforts to identify and remedy institutional barriers that were impacting our work with communities of color. Though not an easy process, we became better partners, service providers and staff.”

    Dr. Helene Rimberg
    Dr. Helene Rimberg Division Director, Oregon Health Authority | Director of Family Services, Cascade AIDS Project
  • “Thomas was extremely effective in helping Dharma Rain manage our capital campaign. He provided board and staff training, developed individualized donor portfolios, and built systems for reporting and tracking. He coached, cheer led and prodded through a deft combination of enthusiasm, patience, focus and accountability. Thomas helped change our culture around fundraising. With his leadership, we exceeded our goal, ahead of schedule.”

    Kakumyo-Lowe Charde
    Kakumyo-Lowe Charde Co-Abbott, Dharma Rain Zen Center | Member, American Zen Teachers Association | Member, Soto Zen Buddhist Association
  • “I called on Thomas Bruner regularly to facilitate one of our most challenging break-out sessions at Leadership Fort Worth’s annual conference — and it was consistently successful. He made sure that participants not only learned the theory and strategy, but also had a good time and left feeling good about their accomplishments. His interpersonal skills are excellent, and his facilitation skills are outstanding. I highly recommend him.”

    Dr. Harriet Harral
    Dr. Harriet Harral Executive Director, Leadership Fort Worth | Principal Consultant, The Harral Group | Board Member, Baptist Theological Seminary
  • “Thomas Bruner is a champion of equity. At Cascade AIDS Project, he forged an innovative partnership with African American churches. At Red Cross, he created programming to improve cultural competence. At Susan G. Komen, he launched programs to tackle disparities in Latinas, and expand prevention for African Americans. Thomas has also successfully diversified Boards, staff and volunteers at every organization he has led.”

    Rev. Dr. T. Allen Bethel
    Rev. Dr. T. Allen Bethel President, Albina Ministerial Alliance | Senior Pastor, Maranatha Church | Board Member, American Red Cross Oregon | Board Member, Susan G. Komen Oregon
  • "Thomas Bruner is exceptional. He mobilized our conservative metropolitan region around HIV and LGBT rights with skill, savvy and diplomacy. He transformed an all-volunteer organization into a sophisticated, influential multi-million dollar agency. Thomas has great people skills, and a talent for engaging others in working toward a shared vision."

    Robert Fernandez
    Robert Fernandez President, Fernandez & Company | Chair, Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport Board | President, The Fort Worth Club
  • "I hold tremendous respect and admiration for Bruner. His commitment to equity greatly enhanced our organization’s cultural competence. His courage, creativity, and dynamic leadership inspired, nurtured and mentored me. I grew as a person and a professional working with Thomas. He empowered me as a leader, and impacted my life greatly."

    Antoinette Edwards
    Antoinette Edwards Director, Office of Youth Violence Prevention, City of Portland | Diversity & Outreach Director, American Red Cross Oregon | Founder, Black PFLAG Oregon
  • “Thomas Bruner galvanizes those with whom he works. He took struggling organizations like Cascade AIDS Project and Susan G. Komen Oregon and catapulted them to the forefront. Thomas is successful due to his intelligence, passion and ability to tell the story of his organization. To have Thomas on your team ensures success, engagement, enthusiasm, creative fundraising, and the straight ride to the top – whatever the field.”

    Julie Vigeland
    Julie Vigeland Chair, Oregon Arts Commission | Chair, Portland Center Stage | Chair, Portland Parks Board
  • “Thomas Bruner leads with vision, creativity and talent - skilled at gauging where an organization is and where it can go. He is gifted in working with teams to create a path forward, with strategic and tactical work plans to back it up. All the while, he maintains enthusiasm and a tremendous sense of humor. Thomas’ results and accomplishments are impressive and undeniable.”

    Ann Marie Berryman
    Ann Marie Berryman Director of Development & Communications, Susan G. Komen Oregon | Major Giving Director, National Multiple Sclerosis Society Oregon | Associate Development Director, Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
  • "I witnessed Thomas Bruner's exceptional business acumen, political savvy and personal charms early in his career. Thomas is a man of many skills - leader, mobilizer, fundraiser, advocate, bridge-builder. He also has a wonderful way of infusing energy, positivity and warmth into his work, making it easy to follow where he leads."

    Dionne Bagsby
    Dionne Bagsby Commissioner, Tarrant County Commissioners Court | Board of Advisors, AIDS Outreach Center | Board Member, United Way of Tarrant County
View All Endorsements

“Thomas Bruner leads with vision, creativity and talent. He is gifted in working with teams to create a path forward, with strategic and tactical work plans to back it up. He maintains enthusiasm and a tremendous sense of humor. Thomas’ accomplishments are impressive and undeniable.”

Ann Marie Berryman
Director of Development & Communications, Susan G. Komen Oregon
Major Giving Director, National Multiple Sclerosis Society Oregon
Associate Development Director, Oregon Museum of Science and Industry

 

“Thomas Bruner galvanizes those with whom he works. He took struggling organizations like Cascade AIDS Project and Susan G. Komen Oregon and catapulted them to the forefront. He is smart, passionate and a gifted communicator. To have Thomas on your team ensures success, engagement, enthusiasm, creative fundraising, and the straight ride to the top.”

Julie Vigeland
Chair, Oregon Arts Commission
Chair, Portland Center Stage
Chair, Portland Parks Board

 

“I hold tremendous respect and admiration for Thomas Bruner. His commitment to equity greatly enhanced our organization’s cultural competence. His courage, creativity, and dynamic leadership inspired, nurtured and mentored me. I grew as a person and a professional working with Thomas.”

Antoinette Edwards
Director, Office of Youth Violence Prevention, City of Portland
Diversity & Outreach Director, American Red Cross Oregon
Founder, Black PFLAG Oregon

 

“Thomas Bruner is exceptional. He mobilized our conservative metropolitan region around HIV and LGBT rights with skill, savvy and diplomacy. He transformed an all-volunteer organization into a influential multi-million-dollar agency. Thomas has great people skills, and a talent for engaging others in a shared vision.”

Robert Fernandez
President, Fernandez & Company
Chair, Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport Board
President, The Fort Worth Club

 

“Thomas Bruner is a man of instinctive generosity and integrity. He has a wealth of ideas and energy and genuinely loves to make the world a better – and more efficient – place. Thomas brought new energy and ideas to our temple’s stalled fundraising campaign. Within months, we exceeded our goal by 35%.”

Sallie Tisdale
Author
Nurse, Providence Health & Services
Senior Lay Teacher, Dharma Rain Zen Center

 

“As our Vice President, Thomas Bruner pulled together a diverse group of accomplished leaders across the Northeast into a real team. Together, we reduced our operating deficit, exceeded our fundraising targets, innovated across state boundaries, and became a model for other divisions nationally. During a time of extraordinary change, Thomas led with creativity, consensus-building, and the ability to make tough decisions.”

Dianne Auger
President & CEO, St. Vincent’s Medical Center Foundation
Senior Vice President & Chief Strategy Officer, St. Vincent’s Health Services
CEO, American Red Cross Connecticut, Rhode Island and NYC

 

“Thomas Bruner is a visionary, innovator, and thought leader. Early in the HIV epidemic, he saw the emerging disparities in African Americans. He mobilized our Black leaders, opened an office in the historically Black part of our city, and hired me to develop culturally-specific programming. He was an amazing boss and caring mentor, and inspires me still today.”

Krystal James
Diversity Outreach Coordinator, AIDS Outreach Center
Precinct Administrator, Tarrant County Commissioners Court
Special Projects Manager, Tarrant County College

 

“Thomas Bruner is a great advocate, connector, leader, and fundraiser. I’ve followed him everywhere he’s gone. Because of his vision and savvy, I chaired AIDS Walk at Cascade AIDS Project, served on his advisory board at Red Cross, cheered him on at Susan G. Komen, and became a funder of the campaign he led at Dharma Rain Zen Center.”

Sho Dozono
CEO, Azumano Travel/American Express
Chair, Spirit Mountain Community Fund
Chair, Portland Business Alliance
Trustee, Portland State University

 

“In every interaction I had with Thomas, I experienced a refreshing and rare combination of a results-oriented team member and a warm-hearted leader. Thomas brings passion and compassion into everything he does, while weaving humor and fun into it all. Whenever I’d look at my calendar and see a meeting with Thomas, I knew it was going to be a great day.”

Charley Shimanski
President & CEO, Mount Evans Home Health Care & Hospice
Senior Vice President, Disaster Services, American Red Cross
President & CEO, Colorado Nonprofit Association

 

“Thomas Bruner is a big thinker. While at Komen, he was a fierce advocate for the Latina Initiative. His leadership secured the donation of over 2,400 mammograms, follow-up diagnostic care, and cancer treatment for uninsured Latinas through Kaiser Permanente Northwest. Thomas excels at leveraging relationships and resources to accomplish a goal.”

Dr. Gloria Coronado
Senior Investigator for Disparities, Kaiser Center for Health Research
Board Member, Susan G. Komen Oregon

 

“Thomas Bruner is one of the most accomplished and inspirational leaders I know. He stands out not only for his vast range of experience, but for his pragmatic approach. Thomas is a visionary who knows how to make things happen, turning around troubled organizations and growing them into thriving community resources. He has been an inspiration for me and many nonprofit leaders.”

Roey Thorpe
Director of Advocacy Programs, Equality Federation
Executive Director, Basic Rights Oregon
Mayor, City of Ithaca, New York

 

“As Vice President of Diversity at the American Red Cross, Thomas was an innovative and passionate leader. He pioneered the expansion of national programming for inclusion and created employee resource groups with over 1,000 participants. He significantly raised the profile of equity across the country and increased staff engagement.”

Peggy Dyer
Chief Marketing Officer, American Red Cross
Vice President of Marketing, Strategy & Planning, Allstate Insurance
Vice President of Marketing, Citibank North America

 

“Under Thomas’ leadership, AIDS Outreach Center’s Board became one of the most respected, collaborative and influential in our region. He mobilized media, funders, elected officials and partners across our county to become engaged, take action and rally with us in the fight against HIV. Our community rose to the challenge. and our collective impact became a model nationally.”

Rosie Mauk
Board President, AIDS Outreach Center
Director, AmeriCorps
Associate Director, Peace Corps

 

“I’ve known Thomas Bruner for over 25 years, working with him in many capacities. Thomas brings thoughtfulness and passion to all his work. I have been particularly impressed with his skills in development. He knows how to create an effective fundraising program, and is also an excellent teacher and coach.”

Terry Stone
Executive Director, CenterLink
Executive Director, Northwest AIDS Foundation
Executive Director, Oak Lawn Community Services
President, Texas AIDS Network

 

“Thomas Bruner brings passion, dedication, and commitment to everything he does. In Fort Worth, he was an amazing community force, building bridges and easing fears as he grew AIDS Outreach Center into a highly-respected and powerful organization. People in Fort Worth still remember his impact, talent, and vision.”

Lydia Saldaña
Communications Director, Texas Parks and Wildlife
News Reporter, WFAA-TV Dallas
News Reporter, KTBC-TV Austin

 

“I have worked with and have been witness to the dedicated work of Thomas Bruner for years. Thomas has a unique and remarkable skill in optimizing organizational alignment and outcome strategies, getting the entity – and the individuals from top leadership to volunteer level – to focus and actualize their mission and business goals.”

Sharon LaCroix Kitzhaber
BonVie Weight Loss & and Nutritional Wellness
First Lady, State of Oregon

 

“Thomas’ commitment to improving Cascade AIDS Project’s cultural competence was effective! Nothing was left untouched – policies, procedures, programs, partnerships were examined through an equity lens. Thomas led our efforts to remedy institutional barriers that were impacting our work with communities of color. Though not an easy process, we became better partners, providers, and staff.”

Dr. Helene Rimberg
Division Director, Oregon Health Authority
Director of Family Services, Cascade AIDS Project

 

“Thomas Bruner brought equity to American Red Cross in every way. He insured that we benefited from an understanding of the positive bottom-line impact of its implementation. As a fundraiser, Thomas was exceptional in helping Board members leverage their connections. He is creative and strategic in building development strategies that work.”

Maree Wacker
CEO, Fora Health
CEO, American Red Cross Oregon
Executive Director, Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon Foundation

 

“Thomas was extremely effective in helping Dharma Rain manage our capital campaign. He provided board and staff training, developed individualized donor portfolios, and built systems for reporting and tracking. He coached, cheer led, and prodded through a deft combination of enthusiasm, patience, focus and accountability. He changed our culture around fundraising.”

Kakumyo-Lowe Charde
Co-Abbott, Dharma Rain Zen Center
Member, American Zen Teachers Association
Member, Soto Zen Buddhist Association

 

“At Cascade AIDS Project, Thomas Bruner transformed a grassroots organization into a strong, highly-respected nonprofit – and diversified its reach to underserved communities. At Susan G. Komen Thomas personally secured $1 million in state funds for breast cancer screening, benefiting thousands of women. Working with Thomas has been inspirational and fulfilling. I have learned from and value him.”

Kristin Kane
Program Manager, Kaiser Permanente NW
Breast Cancer Program Manager, Oregon Health Authority
Deputy Director, Cascade AIDS Project

 

“I called on Thomas Bruner regularly to facilitate one of our most challenging break-out sessions at Leadership Fort Worth’s annual conference — and it was consistently successful. He made sure that participants not only learned the theory and strategy, but also had a good time and left feeling good about their accomplishments. His interpersonal skills are excellent, and his facilitation skills are outstanding.”

Dr. Harriet Harral
Executive Director, Leadership Fort Worth
Principal Consultant, The Harral Group
Board Member, Baptist Theological Seminary

 

“Thomas Bruner is a champion of equity. At Cascade AIDS Project, he forged an innovative partnership with African American churches. At Red Cross, he created programming to improve cultural competence. At Susan G. Komen, he tackled disparities among Latinas. Thomas has also successfully diversified Boards, staff and volunteers at every organization he has led.”

Rev. Dr. T. Allen Bethel
President, Albina Ministerial Alliance
Board Member, American Red Cross Oregon
Board Member, Susan G. Komen Oregon

 

“I’ve worked with Thomas Bruner for years. He’s a smart, strategic, innovative, and visionary leader. He’s also an accomplished fundraiser, leading Cascade AIDS Project, Red Cross, and Susan G. Komen to greater fundraising success. And Thomas is a champion for equity. He has led transformation at majority-culture organizations, helping them become far more inclusive at every level.”

Shelli Romero
Area Manager, Oregon Department of Transportation
President, Rose City Chica, LLC
Oregon Government Ethics Commission
Portland Parks & Recreation Board

C L I E N T S

Bruner Strategies Clients

Bruner Strategies has exceptional breadth of organizational development expertise. As a consultant, executive, and board member, Bruner has served an array of mission-focused businesses and organizations across multiple sectors. Institutions with 35,000 employees and budgets of $3.4 billion. Emerging start-ups with one employee and $75,000 in revenue. All-volunteer community organizations. In the U.S., he has strengthened organizations in Texas, California, New York, Oregon, Minnesota, and Alabama. Internationally, he has worked in India and Venezuela.

I N S I G H T S

Bruner Strategies Insights

C O N T A C T

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