KindCon Partner Spotlight: Turning Data Into Impact with BWF Zuri

For nonprofit leaders and advancement teams, the math is getting harder every year. Donor participation is declining, attention is more competitive than ever, and the technology and AI landscape is shifting at a pace few teams have bandwidth to keep up with. Meeting that moment takes a partner who understands both the strategy and the systems behind sustainable fundraising.

That’s exactly where BWF Zuri comes in. We’re thrilled to feature BWF Zuri, a Gold Sponsor of KindCon 2026, and one of the nonprofit sector’s most comprehensive fundraising consulting firms. Born from the combined strength of BWF and Zuri Group, the firm supports every stage of the donor and donation journey: from campaign strategy and donor engagement to data science, fundraising operations, and technology implementation. As philanthropy evolves and the challenges facing nonprofits grow more complex, BWF Zuri is built to help client partners succeed in this new era of fundraising.

We sat down with Christian Varano, Executive Vice President of Global Business Development & Growth, and Kate Nimety, Executive Vice President of Strategy, at BWF Zuri to talk about what sets the firm apart, where the nonprofit sector is headed, and how their teams are helping organizations turn data into durable, long-term fundraising programs.

Tell us about your company. What’s your mission?

BWF Zuri is the nonprofit sector’s most comprehensive fundraising consulting firm. We’re driven by a mission to empower nonprofits to achieve impact and imagine new possibilities, because our partners’ work matters deeply to communities around the world. We support every stage of the donor and donation journey, with expertise spanning campaign strategy, donor engagement, data science, fundraising operations, and technology implementation. By combining deep industry expertise, innovative methodologies, and specialized talent, we help organizations strengthen fundraising performance with end-to-end strategy and solutions. As philanthropy evolves, nonprofits are facing new and complex challenges — and BWF Zuri is built to help client partners succeed in this new era of fundraising.

What types of organizations do you work with?

We work exclusively with nonprofits, and have since 1983. Our clients span higher education, healthcare, human services, arts and culture, faith-based organizations, and environmental causes — from regional institutions to large global organizations.

What sets your company apart from others in the industry?

Everything we do starts with data. We take the time to build authentic relationships with the organizations we partner with, so we understand their current state before crafting the right roadmap for success. We bring end-to-end capabilities that extend far beyond fundraising, including CRM strategy and implementation, AI and data science, prospect development, donor experience, organizational strategy, and technology services.

And we deliver on our promises, taking a structured yet agile approach to help organizations reach and exceed their goals. We believe philanthropy is one of the most powerful forces for solving the world’s greatest challenges, and our role is to help mission-driven organizations strengthen their impact through strategy, innovation, and authentic human connection.

What was the best part of KindCon 2025? And what are you most excited for at KindCon 2026?

Zuri Group has participated in Kindsight’s customer conference for the last three years, but KindCon 2026 marks our first year together as BWF Zuri — and we can’t think of a better community to celebrate that with. We’re excited to connect with organizations that are using Kindsight to its fullest, and to share what’s possible when great technology meets the right strategic and technical partner. We’re especially looking forward to reconnecting with the clients we currently support on both Ascend and AdvancementRM, and to meeting new friends and colleagues along the way.

What trends or changes are you seeing in your industry that excite you the most?

The nonprofit sector is navigating real headwinds right now: donor participation is declining, competition for attention is intensifying, and the technology and AI landscape is changing at record speed. What excites us is that these pressures are also creating an opening for organizations willing to think differently. AI and data science are unlocking new ways to identify prospects, personalize engagement, and measure impact.

We’re seeing organizations that invest in the right systems and strategies not just survive this moment, but use it to build stronger, more durable programs. That’s exactly the work we’re built to support.

What exciting projects or goals are you currently working on?

We’re incredibly excited about the success our clients are seeing right now. Our teams are currently driving five in-flight Ascend implementations, helping those organizations completely modernize their advancement operations for long-term growth. We’re also thrilled to be partnering with nearly a dozen other clients on post-go-live optimization and strategic operations assessments, to make sure they’re maximizing the value of the systems they already have.

If you could leave KindCon attendees with one key takeaway about your company or mission, what would it be?

You exist to change the world. We exist to help you make it happen. Whatever stage your organization is at — whether you’re launching a transformational campaign, implementing a new CRM, or trying to get more out of your data — BWF Zuri is built to help you get there.

Final thoughts

A great fundraising program is about more than any single campaign or system — it’s about building the strategy, data, and technology foundation that lets an organization’s mission grow for decades. BWF Zuri’s approach of pairing deep sector expertise with hands-on technology implementation means nonprofits don’t have to choose between strategic advice and technical execution; they get both, from one partner.

If you want to see how other nonprofits and foundations are strengthening their fundraising operations, modernizing their CRMs, and putting data to work, there’s no better place to learn than KindCon 2026.

Christian Varano

Christian Varano is Zuri Group’s EVP of Client Services. With over 30 years of nonprofit technology experience, Christian leads Zuri’s efforts in Client Engagement and Retention.

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