YOUR INSTRUCTORS
Meet the Asset GIVING UNIVERSITY TEAM
Bryan Feller
Bryan Feller has served as the President of NCF California since 2014.
Prior to NCF, Bryan got his undergrad in theology and, later, an MBA. He was instrumental in leading a handful of companies to double-digit growth, including a company that made the Inc. 500 list of fastest-growing companies twice. In 2005, he started a consulting firm focused on marketing strategy and sales team effectiveness. In his role as consultant, sales trainer, and coach, Bryan has worked with nearly 70 organizations, ranging from start-ups to the Fortune 500. His clients have included such household names as Johnson & Johnson, United Airlines, Capital One, and Bausch + Lomb.
Paul Forbes
Paul is the Senior Vice President of Giver Experiences at the National Christian Foundation.
Paul grew up in Kansas City and attended West Point, where he studied engineering. After serving as an army officer and flying attack helicopters for peacetime, he felt led to leave the military and settle down. Forbes worked for Hallmark Cards in Mexico and facilitated mission trips for his home church, Pleasant Valley. He eventually became the executive pastor at Pleasant Valley and joined the National Christian Foundation staff 16 years ago, where he has been involved with the generosity movement.
Jeanne McMains
Jeanne currently serves as the Executive Vice President of Offerings & Marketing at the National Christian Foundation.
She has a passion for helping givers and their families create and achieve their charitable giving goals. She is responsible for improving the clarity and performance of our existing offerings and for developing new ones. Jeanne has been a practicing attorney in the areas of estate planning, business succession, and family philanthropy since 1995. Throughout her career, Jeanne has been a sought-after presenter for several financial institutions, including Fidelity Investments, Merrill Lynch, and Morgan Stanley, among many others. She is also a speaker for numerous charitable organizations, including: Alliance Defending Freedom, Christian Legal Society, Compassion International, Generous Giving, Focus on the Family, and Kingdom Advisors.
Dan Navarra
Dan Navarra serves as the Central Valley and Northern California Area Director for National Christian Foundation of California.
He is a Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP®), has studied finance at Harvard Business School, received his undergraduate degree in Philosophy with a Religious Emphasis, and then continued on to Fuller Theological Seminary for his Masters of Divinity. Dan enjoyed fifteen years in local church pastoral ministry specializing in teaching, project management, stewardship, and human resources prior to his joining NCF in 2022.
Joel Smyer
Joel Smyer serves as the founding President and General Counsel of the National Christian Foundation North Texas.
Before helping launch the Foundation, he was a partner at a Fort Worth law firm, where he practiced in various areas of civil litigation. Since the Foundation’s inception in 2008, Joel has specialized in asset-based giving and has acted as a thought partner to hundreds of families who integrate charitable giving into their business exit, estate, and succession planning. Joel graduated from Baylor University and Baylor University School of Law.
David Wills
David Wills is the President Emeritus of The National Christian Foundation (NCF).
His passions are centered on generosity and eternity. David has practiced law since 1988, focusing on the areas of charitable gift planning, exempt organizations (specifically in the public and private foundation arenas), estate planning, and fiduciary related matters. David is the co-author of two books, Investing in God’s Business and Family Money, as well as numerous articles and lectures throughout the country. He earned a BBA and a JD from Baylor University and completed post-graduate work at Dallas Theological Seminary.
Have questions or need assistance?
For questions or assistance, please contact Sarah Jay Timmermans, Asset Giving University Administrator, at 949-392-8528 or stimmermans@ncfgiving.com
