2025 40 Under 40 Winners

Jake has successfully led two major capital campaigns for CHI Memorial Foundation, including the $21 million Invest in the Best campaign, which has already secured $15 million in gifts, and the Care Closer to Home campaign for the new CHI Memorial Georgia Hospital, opening in December 2025. In 2023, he was a major contributor to CHI Memorial Foundation’s selection as CommonSpirit Health’s Foundation of the Year, a top distinction among one of the country’s largest nonprofit health systems. 

In 2024, Jake and the Foundation team were named Nonprofit of the Year by the local chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, affirming his leadership’s impact in the broader philanthropic community. 

Beyond his formal role, Jake serves as Program Chair for the Southeast TN AFP chapter, is active in the Leadership Chattanooga Alumni Association, and coaches his children’s sports teams. 

A nudge from a volunteer who knew about an opening.

The ability to show a donor the direct impact of their dollars.

Shifting away from working for a private consulting firm into a community fundraising role. The move helped me grab a foothold in the community and build relationships with the donors in our town.

Raising a strong family to create a better community. We're all here together and our hope is to leave the world better than you found it.

The healthcare learning curve is steep. My advice would be to learn a little bit about a lot.