Jim Maher

Our Gifting Guru, Jim, has been in the financial services industry over 30 years. His greatest passion is philanthropic planning. It is personal to him & his family as they carry their stewardship out into the community through gifts of time, talent & treasure. Their work is evidenced by all aspects of nonprofit participation: volunteering, boards, leadership & financial investment. 

Jim recently founded Gifting Insider™, a company that creates unique platforms for wealth distribution. He serves as the Gifting Guru, as his goal is to make the gifting process both simple and impactful for all parties involved. He is no stranger to the ins and outs of gifting, as his philanthropic efforts have earned him both regional and national awards.

• Jim was the St. Louis Association of Fundraising Professionals’ 2019 Volunteer of the Year Recipient. Watch the video here. 
• In 2009, Jim was recognized regionally as the “Donor Advisor of the Year” by the St. Louis Community Foundation, Leave-A-Legacy and the Planned Giving Council.
• In 2017 and 2018, he was awarded a life-time achievement industry award by the Invest in Others Foundation.
• He has chaired Children’s Hospital Legacy Advisory Board as well as the United Way campaign for Southwestern Illinois and the American Heart Association Walk.
• He has served as President of the St. Louis AgriBusiness Club, the St. Louis Chapter of the University of Missouri – Columbia Alumni Association and currently the St. Louis Chapter of the Exit Planning Institute.
• Additionally, Jim has served on numerous boards, including the Southwestern Illinois Leadership Council, American Red Cross Bi-State Board of Directors and Southwestern Illinois YMCA board.

While Jim has accomplished a lot in his life thus far, he considers his greatest achievement to being a father. His gift of a lifetime has been donating part of his liver, as a living donor, to his son, JD when he was a newborn. Jim calls O’Fallon, Illinois home and enjoys his days alongside his wife, Jenny and four sons, JD, Jack, Joey and Josh.