Jimmie R. Alford, LL.D., L.H.D., CFRE died on December 18, 2012, at age 69, after a sudden heart attack.

Jimmie was born in Madisonville, KY on November 24, 1943 to Loren and Dora Mae Alford. He has two siblings Betty Peveler and Larry Alford. The family moved to Chicago in the early 1950's. On June 28, 1998, he married his best friend and true partner, Maree G. Bullock. He adored and celebrated his family, including his children Ann, Sean, Alan and Joshua and grandchildren Collin and Casey. He took immense joy in spending time with his family and never went a day without letting them know the depth of his love. Jimmie was also a deeply generous man who poured his heart and soul into the work of the nonprofit sector, helping to empower organizations as a visionary leader, mentor and teacher.

He began his career with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago while completing his degree at North Park University and advanced quickly in the organization, becoming the director of a club program unit at the age of 24. He went on to obtain a Masters degree in Administration and Organizational Behavior from Aurora University and continued to work with the Boys & Girls Clubs for a total of 16 years.

In 1979, he founded The Alford Group, a national consulting firm serving the nonprofit community in organizational development, philanthropy, executive search and knowledge management. The mission of the firm was core to Jimmie's work and legacy, "to strengthen the not-for-profit community." Throughout the firm's 33 years, it has served over 3,000 clients, ranging from large multinational organizations to small start-ups and has helped to sustain the rich, robust nonprofit community throughout the country.

In 2006, Jimmie sold the firm but remained an active leader in client services as well as Chair of the Board. He also continued to volunteer his skills and expertise to benefit numerous organizations through board service, pro-bono consulting and various other avenues. He formalized his efforts to educate the next generation of leaders by teaching graduate courses at the Axelson Center for Nonprofit Management at North Park University and by leading the Nonprofit Executive Education Certification at Notre Dame University. For Jimmie, teaching gave him yet another opportunity to sustain the sector he had worked for 50 years to strengthen.

Jimmie was a board member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) since 1973 and in 2009 was recognized by his peers with the Chair's Award for Outstanding Service. He was a former chair of the American Association of Fundraising Council (AAFRC), now the Giving Institute and former board member of the Fund Raising School at the Indiana University Center on Philanthropy. He was also twice distinguished by The NonProfit Times as "one of the 50 most influential people in the nonprofit sector." Most recently, he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Better Government Association of Chicago and the 2012 "Spirit of Youth" award from the National Runaway Switchboard. In 2007, he received an honorary Doctor of Laws from North Park University and an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Aurora University.

Even more than Jimmie's professional achievements, his profound ability to inspire and motivate remains his most celebrated quality. Over his lifetime, Jimmie has helped countless people realize their dreams through his leadership and guidance. His legacy will live on through his wife, Maree, his children and grandchildren and through every organization and individual he touched.

Visitation and service will be held Saturday, December 22, 2012 at the First United Methodist Church at The Chicago Temple, 77 W. Washington Street, Chicago, Illinois 60602. Public visitation begins at 1 p.m. and the memorial service at 2 p.m. Interment private.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Jimmie R. Alford Scholarship Fund at North Park University, 3225 West Foster Avenue, Box 6, Chicago, Illinois 60625 or www.northpark.edu/giving

For further information call Michalik Funeral Home at 312-421-0936.