Jim Peak
Historical Summary
James M. “Jim” Peak, inducted into the Hall of Honor in 2017, built a national reputation as a leading fundraiser for nonprofit, educational, religious, health care, and cultural institutions. Over a 31-year career, he directed major campaigns in 22 states, including successful efforts for the El Paso Lighthouse for the Blind, Montana Tech University, the Diocese of Spokane, and the Salvation Army in Omaha.
Peak played a major role in El Paso philanthropy and higher education. As president of the Providence Memorial Foundation from 1989 to 1991, he created a new hospital fundraising program that quickly generated more than $1.5 million in gifts, along with endowments and charitable remainder trusts worth several million dollars. Earlier, from 1977 to 1989, he served as chief development officer at the University of Texas at El Paso, where annual giving rose from $400,000 to $5 million, the university endowment increased by $25 million, and funds were secured for a new $50 million library and its collections.
His professional service extended internationally through the Association of Fundraising Professionals, and locally through volunteer work with the Downtown Lions Club, the El Paso County Historical Society, and the American Cancer Society. He also served as president of the El Paso County Historical Society in 1977.
Don Henderson, also a 2017 Hall of Honor inductee, was recognized for decades of public service in El Paso. Elected alderman in 1973, he served in the Parks, Recreation and Health portfolio and oversaw major civic improvements, including construction of Pavo Real Park and Pool in the Lower Valley, a new pool at Washington Park, the pool at Westside Park, and work on Travis White Park in East El Paso and Ponder Park in West El Paso.
Document Transcription
Jim Peak
2017 Hall of Honor Inductee
James M. “Jim” Peak is often referred to as one of America’s “deans of fundraising.” He possesses 31 years of extensive and successful fundraising experience for health care institutions, higher education institutions, religious organizations, museums, and other non-profit organizations across the United States.
Prior to his retirement, Mr. Peak successfully led major fundraising campaigns in 22 states for non-profit organizations like the El Paso Lighthouse for the Blind ($22 million), Montana Tech University in Butte, Montana ($21 million); Diocese of Spokane, Washington ($3.5 million), and the Salvation Army in Omaha, Nebraska ($8.3 million).
Between 1989 and 1991, Mr. Peak was employed as President of Providence Memorial Foundation in El Paso, where he established a new fundraising program for the hospital. Just two years after the foundation’s formation, Mr. Peak raised over $1.5 million from individual and corporate donors and created two endowments valued at more than $1 million and four charitable remainder trusts valued at $2 million.
From 1977 to 1989, Mr. Peak served The University of Texas at El Paso, his alma mater, as Chief Development Officer. During his tenure, he developed a team that increased annual giving ten-fold (from $400,000 per year to $5 million per year), enlarged the university’s permanent endowment by $25 million, and successfully raised the funds to endow a new $50 million library building and fill it with books.
At the international level, Mr. Peak has served on the Association of Fundraising Professionals Membership Committee (2005-2007), the Committee on Directorship (2006-2008), and the Outstanding Professional Award Selection Committee (2007).
He remains an active volunteer in the El Paso community as a member of the Downtown Lions Club, the El Paso County Historical Society (where he served as president in 1977), and the American Cancer Society (West Texas and State of Texas).
Don Henderson
2017 Hall of Honor Inductee
Don Henderson’s legacy encompasses decades of service to the people of El Paso. Mr. Henderson ran for alderman and was elected in 1973. He served as the Parks, Recreation and Health alderman during this time. He was responsible for overseeing the following projects: construction of Pavo Real Park and Pool in the Lower Valley, the new pool at Washington Park, and the pool at Westside Park. He also supervised construction on Travis White Park (East El Paso) and Ponder Park (West El Paso). As an alderman, Mr.
