A Tribute to Geoff Biddle Who Quietly Provided Crucial Sustainer Payment Support
Last week, I heard some very shocking news. Geoff Biddle, CEO of Payment Solutions, 66, was found shot in his own home.
I had known Geoff for many years. We always used to run into each other at fundraising conferences. I still remember Beverly Kempf introducing him to me as the person who was going to take over as she was getting ready to retire.
Geoff was the kindest, pleasant, and most knowledgeable man. I had the opportunity to work with him and his colleagues at Payment Solutions for one of my clients.
Geoff was passionate about sustainer giving and about helping nonprofits process credit cards and EFT payments. He was always looking for new ways to make it easier, and he and his team were on top of the latest payment developments (and there sure have been many!)
Smooth sustainer processes don’t just happen. It takes people like Geoff who quietly work in the background to know all there is to know about payment processes and who make fundraisers’ lives easier.
Geoff, I’m sure I can say I speak on behalf of all those nonprofits you’ve helped: We salute you. May you rest in peace. We will miss you.
Erica Waasdorp is one of the leading experts on monthly giving. She is the president of A Direct Solution, a company serving nonprofit organizations with fundraising and direct marketing needs, with a focus on monthly giving and appeals. She authored "Monthly Giving: The Sleeping Giant" and "Monthly Giving Made Easy." She regularly blogs and presents on fundraising, appeals and monthly giving — in person and through webinars. She is happy to answer any questions you may have about this great way of improving retention rates for your donors.
Erica has over 30 years of experience in nonprofits and direct response. She helped the nonprofits she works with raise millions of dollars through monthly giving programs. She is also very actively supports organizations with annual fund planning and execution, ranging from copywriting, creative, lists, print and mail execution.
When she’s not working or writing, Erica can be found on the golf course (she’s a straight shooter) or quietly reading a book. And if there’s an event with a live band, she and her husband, Patrick, can be found on the dance floor. She also loves watching British drama on PBS. Erica and Patrick have two step sons and a cat, Mientje.
