Jim Friend

Jim Friend is a Managing Director at Changing Our World and the host of the Advancing Our Church podcast.

For 25 years, Jim has provided service to Catholic organizations through philanthropy and ministry. He began his career in parish ministry at St. Thomas of Villanova Parish in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. After running his first successful parish capital campaign, Jim consulted for the Diocese of Camden where he oversaw a two-year diocesan stewardship initiative that was recognized by the International Catholic Stewardship Conference. Over the next couple of years, Jim conducted capital campaigns for numerous parishes around the Mid-Atlantic Region.

In 2014, Jim was recruited by the Faith in the Future Foundation as its first Chief Development Officer, and he provided oversight for all fundraising for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s 17 high schools and four schools of special education. By setting new standards, Jim led the high school system to nearly double its fundraising results over four years.

Jim is currently an Aspirant in the Diaconate formation program in the Diocese of Allentown, and remains active in his parish. He graduated with a B.A. from West Chester University and earned a master’s degree in English and Publishing from Rosemont College. Jim, his wife Kristin and their three children live in the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania.