Jimmy Walker Wins State Policy Network’s Inaugural Philanthropy Impact Award  

State Policy Network is pleased to announce Jimmy Walker is the 2024 winner of SPN’s Philanthropy Impact Award. Launched in 2024, SPN’s Philanthropy Impact Award recognizes a development professional in the state think tank Network who has made an indispensable contribution to their organization’s fundraising success. 

Jimmy Walker: Making an Outstanding Impact in Philanthropy in the State-Based, Free-Market Movement 

Walker is the vice president for advancement at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, where he leads the organization’s fundraising team. In this role, Walker raises funds for the Mackinac Center and secures five and six figure gifts each year, drives the strategic direction of the advancement team, works alongside the executive team, leads a team of 15 people, and strengths the organization’s culture of philanthropy. 

Building an Effective Philanthropy Team at the Mackinac Center  

Walker is an exceptional leader who finds talent in unique places and lets his team flourish in their roles. Before he joined the Mackinac Center, turnover was high—not only on the leadership team, but on the Development team as well. Under Jimmy’s leadership, turnover has gone down, and several team members have stayed on.  

James Hohman, the director of fiscal policy at Mackinac, noted: “We have so many more talented people committed to making a difference. We’ve found new ways to win. And we’re working better with more people. Our growth and gains wouldn’t have happened without Jimmy.” 

Growing the Fundraising Capabilities of the Mackinac Center  

Jimmy’s impact on the Mackinac Center’s fundraising success is immense. When he joined in 2015, Mackinac’s annual revenue was under $5 million. Thanks to his leadership, the Center grew from more than $5 million in 2016 to more than $10 million in 2018, reaching nearly $12 million in 2023.  

Jimmy once secured a $3 million-dollar matching gift from a generous donor, who had first donated $100. The $6 million raised went towards creating the Frank Beckmann Center for Journalism, which allows Mackinac to better work towards government transparency and communicating their message to the public. 

The Frank Beckmann Center is just one example of the many policy reforms Mackinac’s philanthropy team, under Jim’s leadership, made possible.  

Congratulations Jimmy! Your impact on philanthropy at the Mackinac Center and the Network has been enormous, and we look forward to seeing you continue to make a difference in Michigan and beyond.