Rebecca Richards
Executive Director
Rebecca received her Bachelor of Science degree in Human Resource Management from BYU’s Marriott School of Business, where she is also currently completing her Master of Public Administration. Prior to her MPA, she was a project management intern for the Welfare and Self-Reliance Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a Ballard Center Scholar. Her most recent positions include working as a research assistant for
a national study on donor advise funds, and as a development assistant for a large-scale fundraising campaign. In these roles she has managed events on a $50,000+ budget, participated in multi-million-dollar fundraising campaigns, and even recruited, trained, and onboarded 50+ volunteers that she then managed for an increase in 60% productivity. In her free time, she manages her own business as a professional free-lance harpist.
Adelyn Mae Serveza
Marketing Director
Adelyn is from the Philippines and is pursuing a Masters in Public Health at Brigham Young University. She received a degree in Sports and Exercise Science with minors in Nutritional Science and Social Work from Brigham Young University Hawaii. She completed an internship at the Bountiful Children’s Foundation, which inspired her to study public health, specifically global health communication. Grantwell was part of her electives and she participated in a Be a Philanthrophy project. She oversaw the project’s marketing initiatives, which helped her establish her career path and encouraged her to look for additional opportunities in the philanthropic sector. The hands-on experience not only enhanced her skills but also fueled her passion for making a positive impact on society. She is married, has a 4-year-old daughter, and loves photography.
Gerhard van Scheltema
Experience Director
Gerhard van Scheltema is from South African who currently enrolled in the MPA graduate program at BYU. A year ago, he and his wife, Susan, made the decision to leave South Africa with three children namely Serenity, Zachariah, and Frederich. Since then, they have been blessed with a new addition to their family, Cyrus, who was born in Utah earlier this year. With degrees in education and education management, he dedicated nearly a decade to teaching in public schools. His interests include playing chess, serving others, watching series with his wife, and enjoying board games with his family and friends. Back in South Africa, his home was just a few minutes away from the beach, and he often miss the experience of swimming in the waves and feeling the ocean’s calming presence. Additionally, he loves grilling or barbecuing, a cherished South African tradition they call a “braai” in South Africa.
Dan Heist
Faculty Advisor
Dr. H. Daniel Heist is an Assistant Professor of Public Administration and Nonprofit Management at Brigham Young University. Dr. Heist earned a BA from Pennsylvania State University, a Master’s degree in Philanthropic Studies from Indiana University, and a PhD in Social Welfare from the University of Pennsylvania. His research focuses on charitable giving, philanthropy, and volunteering. His nine years of professional fundraising experience inform his research and teaching. Dr. Heist is a leading expert on donor-advised fund research and co-founder of the Donor-Advised Fund Research Collaborative. Dan and his wife Katie have five children.