Mr. Calvin Edwards is founder & CEO of Calvin Edwards & Company, a firm committed to “maximizing the good of giving” by consulting with philanthropists as they support charitable and faith-based causes. Calvin Edwards & Company is a consulting firm that provides philanthropic counsel to foundations, high net worth families, and government agencies. Using an extensive array of proprietary tools, it helps clients formulate giving strategies and renders professional advice; assesses giving opportunities in nonprofit sectors; evaluates organizations, programs, and grants worldwide; and designs and administers venture philanthropy projects. Since its founding in 2001, the firm has served more than sixty clients. Based in Atlanta, GA, it advises clients across the United States and internationally.

This venture builds on Mr. Edwards’ 20⁺ years of executive leadership experience in the nonprofit world and financial services sector. From 1996 to 2000 he was a part of the senior management team, and a principal, at Ronald Blue & Co. (RB&Co.), an investment advisory firm. Mr. Edwards worked closely with Ron Blue on the growth and strategic direction of the company. It was here that Edwards recognized that affluent donors could benefit from wise professional counsel regarding where and how to give.

Previously, Mr. Edwards was the chief operating officer for Peter Lowe International (PLI) in Tampa, Florida, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting time-proven values that help make great people and communities. PLI convened business mega-seminars (10,000+ attendees per event) featuring prominent, high-profile celebrities from government, business, sports, religion, science, and the media.

Prior to PLI, Mr. Edwards was executive vice president of Walk Thru the Bible Ministries (WTB) in Atlanta with responsibility to manage its four revenue centers, international outreach, and business operations. He joined WTB in 1985 and led an expanding publishing division for more than five years before assuming leadership of the entire company's operations in February 1991.

Earlier, Mr. Edwards was president of Good News Unlimited, a rapidly growing interdenominational ministry in Auburn, California. There he developed a nationally syndicated radio program, published a magazine, and convened frequent weekend conferences. Mr. Edwards previously taught in parochial schools for some years as well as lectured in freshman calculus and algebra while in graduate school.

Mr. Edwards has served on the board of 19 nonprofit organizations and helped to found six. He has written and lectured extensively on nonprofit management, effective philanthropy, and a wide range of related technical topics. As an adjunct professor at Pepperdine University, he has taught a course on Principles of Effective Philanthropy, and lectured on nonprofit program evaluation at Georgia State University and national conferences.

He earned a bachelor of arts degree with a double major in literature and religion from Pacific Union College, and a diploma in education from Avondale College. He also earned a master of divinity from Andrews University where he graduated summa cum laude, and a master of business administration from Georgia State University, which he completed with a 4.0 GPA.

Articles authored by Mr. Edwards have been published in a variety of magazines, and he has often been quoted in the Wall Street Journal. He was the general editor for the Family Walk series of books and senior editor for the Youthwalk Devotional Bible (finalist for a Gold Medallion award). In 2001 Andrews University Press published his Seeker After Light, the biography of theologian Albion Fox Ballenger, which was co-authored with Professor Gary Land. He has contributed to the publication of 30⁺ books.

Mr. Edwards came to the U.S. from Australia in 1979 and is a naturalized American. He is married with two adult children, and enjoys reading, snow skiing, and running 10K road races.