Robert Dalton has served the nonprofit community for over thirty years, generating more than $700 million for employers and clients. His early volunteer experiences in high school and college led to his first professional role with the United Way of Dane County, launching a career that has taken him across the country and across the full spectrum of charitable work.
His experience includes both staff positions and consulting engagements in human services, arts and culture, education, health care, and more. While he has contributed to all areas of fundraising, his primary focus has been major and planned gifts. As a consultant, he has directed more than 20 capital campaigns and supervised over 150. He takes particular pride in having hired and mentored over 100 fundraising professionals who continue to advance the missions of nonprofits nationwide.
His fundraising work has also brought him into contact with a wide range of public figures—from musicians and athletes to military aviators and elected officials—many of whom have helped raise awareness for the causes he supported. Among these, he fondly recalls filming a public service announcement with Jimmy Stewart, who was upstaged by giraffes from the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.
Recently, Robert made the decision to step away from the heavy travel schedule that had long defined his work. Personal connections brought him to Sarasota, where he joined Resilient Retreat. The opportunity to help shape an organization that is addressing a critical, unmet need was a compelling next step.
“I was drawn to Resilient Retreat because of its genuinely innovative approach to mental wellness. In my decades of work, I’ve never seen anything quite like it. Even in my short time here, I’ve come to appreciate how its methods have depth and impact well beyond what’s visible from the outside. I believe Resilient Retreat is on a path to national leadership in this space.”