--- title: "About AwardSpring | The team behind donor-funded support" description: "AwardSpring is built for the institutions that change students' lives. Meet the team behind the platform connecting scholarship awarding, donor management, fund management, and stewardship." canonical_url: "https://awardspring.com/about" markdown_url: "https://awardspring.com/about.md" --- ![](https://awardspring.com/_astro/campus-aerial.CmGEHTBH_KlJnw.webp?dpl=dpl_D6YG7rhC2PHhYinyL2amzkvPWqaT) # Built for the institutions that change students' lives. 600+ organizations trust AwardSpring with their scholarship funds. - ![Community Foundation of Northeast Mississippi](https://awardspring.com/_astro/cfnem.Cb2tub9h_1AgOaA.webp?dpl=dpl_D6YG7rhC2PHhYinyL2amzkvPWqaT) - ![Chaffey College](https://awardspring.com/_astro/chaffey.Brx-__Dx_Z2mlwM8.webp?dpl=dpl_D6YG7rhC2PHhYinyL2amzkvPWqaT) - ![Diné College](https://awardspring.com/_astro/dine.CS_J5siv_Z2k3zL4.webp?dpl=dpl_D6YG7rhC2PHhYinyL2amzkvPWqaT) - ![Hispanic Heritage Scholarship Fund](https://awardspring.com/_astro/hhsf.CKgFJb6L_1oR8O6.webp?dpl=dpl_D6YG7rhC2PHhYinyL2amzkvPWqaT) - ![Louisiana State University](https://awardspring.com/_astro/lsu.-92_ecf-_Z2lXUrS.webp?dpl=dpl_D6YG7rhC2PHhYinyL2amzkvPWqaT) - ![Texas A&M University-San Antonio](https://awardspring.com/_astro/tamusa.D-A9cA7-_ZLku7i.webp?dpl=dpl_D6YG7rhC2PHhYinyL2amzkvPWqaT) - ![University of Georgia](https://awardspring.com/_astro/uga.CdAEHudf_1DUoou.webp?dpl=dpl_D6YG7rhC2PHhYinyL2amzkvPWqaT) - ![University of Wisconsin Oshkosh](https://awardspring.com/_astro/uwo.D1t1176T_1H3dwW.webp?dpl=dpl_D6YG7rhC2PHhYinyL2amzkvPWqaT) - ![Washington Apple Education Foundation](https://awardspring.com/_astro/waef.DmDFXIQK_Z2ayWug.webp?dpl=dpl_D6YG7rhC2PHhYinyL2amzkvPWqaT) - ![Zonta International](https://awardspring.com/_astro/zonta.u40rroce_1A0Ibd.webp?dpl=dpl_D6YG7rhC2PHhYinyL2amzkvPWqaT) We turn donor generosity into student opportunity. And empower every institution to change students' lives. Core Values ## How we operate - ### Lead with Humanity We lead with genuine empathy and kindness, and we care enough to be candid. Honest conversations, even the hard ones, are how we respect each other and the institutions we serve. - ### Take Smart Risks We move with urgency and make informed calls before we have every answer. We'd rather run a thoughtful experiment than debate in circles, and we know the difference between a smart risk and a reckless one. - ### Take Pride in the Process Speed and thoughtfulness are not at odds. We focus on the work we can control and trust that quality execution, done consistently, produces the results we're after. - ### Own the Results We hold ourselves accountable for outcomes, measure with real data, and treat every result, good or bad, as something to learn from. Leadership ## The people behind the platform AwardSpring is led by a team with deep roots in higher education and a shared belief that donor-funded support should drive real institutional impact. - ![Alex Stepien, CEO](https://awardspring.com/_astro/alex-stepien-navy.Cdey2mWR_Z1cGqjG.webp?dpl=dpl_D6YG7rhC2PHhYinyL2amzkvPWqaT) ### Alex Stepien CEO - ![Kurt Reilly, CTO](https://awardspring.com/_astro/kurt-reilly-navy.DlpwROjq_1ut5Ag.webp?dpl=dpl_D6YG7rhC2PHhYinyL2amzkvPWqaT) ### Kurt Reilly CTO - ![James Francis, CAIO](https://awardspring.com/_astro/james-francis-navy.DBfDZHkf_26nrqe.webp?dpl=dpl_D6YG7rhC2PHhYinyL2amzkvPWqaT) ### James Francis CAIO - ![Brandon Weisenberger, VP of Sales](https://awardspring.com/_astro/brandon-weisenberger-navy.ruEcRv3__ZGM7FI.webp?dpl=dpl_D6YG7rhC2PHhYinyL2amzkvPWqaT) ### Brandon Weisenberger VP of Sales - ![Dan Rovito, Director of Engineering](https://awardspring.com/_astro/dan-rovito-navy.BZMm_wak_Z3z1w.webp?dpl=dpl_D6YG7rhC2PHhYinyL2amzkvPWqaT) ### Dan Rovito Director of Engineering - ![Doris Espiritu, Controller](https://awardspring.com/_astro/doris-espiritu-navy.CB1PHOhW_Z1w1PeC.webp?dpl=dpl_D6YG7rhC2PHhYinyL2amzkvPWqaT) ### Doris Espiritu Controller - ![Kevin Martin, President](https://awardspring.com/_astro/kevin-martin-navy.B_hz5KVu_1mHEEV.webp?dpl=dpl_D6YG7rhC2PHhYinyL2amzkvPWqaT) ### Kevin Martin President - ![Alex Stepien, CEO](https://awardspring.com/_astro/alex-stepien.CMVT3U42_ZwWWqc.webp?dpl=dpl_D6YG7rhC2PHhYinyL2amzkvPWqaT) - ![Kurt Reilly, CTO](https://awardspring.com/_astro/kurt-reilly.h5HbpLae_JnmC6.webp?dpl=dpl_D6YG7rhC2PHhYinyL2amzkvPWqaT) - ![James Francis, CAIO](https://awardspring.com/_astro/james-francis.BNlhdnOv_ZDByej.webp?dpl=dpl_D6YG7rhC2PHhYinyL2amzkvPWqaT) - ![Abby Trowbridge](https://awardspring.com/_astro/abby-trowbridge.DekC-YQs_Z1U1Hhs.webp?dpl=dpl_D6YG7rhC2PHhYinyL2amzkvPWqaT) - ![Audrey Woodrow](https://awardspring.com/_astro/audrey-woodrow.Dpmz3-Ez_2f4tnG.webp?dpl=dpl_D6YG7rhC2PHhYinyL2amzkvPWqaT) - ![Brandon Weisenberger, VP of Sales](https://awardspring.com/_astro/brandon-weisenberger.BgSDOa7g_LPRmT.webp?dpl=dpl_D6YG7rhC2PHhYinyL2amzkvPWqaT) - ![Brooke Hart](https://awardspring.com/_astro/brooke-hart.BFBk6ukf_Z2bLToF.webp?dpl=dpl_D6YG7rhC2PHhYinyL2amzkvPWqaT) - ![Carmen](https://awardspring.com/_astro/carmen.CXySfHyZ_Z1WbO1K.webp?dpl=dpl_D6YG7rhC2PHhYinyL2amzkvPWqaT) - ![Cass Montemagni](https://awardspring.com/_astro/cass-montemagni.DXCYVmsS_iLp7v.webp?dpl=dpl_D6YG7rhC2PHhYinyL2amzkvPWqaT) - ![Dan Kovalsky](https://awardspring.com/_astro/dan-kovalsky.BluoLRj1_ZJb6z9.webp?dpl=dpl_D6YG7rhC2PHhYinyL2amzkvPWqaT) - ![Dan Rovito, Director of Engineering](https://awardspring.com/_astro/dan-rovito.DXWtCRVU_Z1CPcFw.webp?dpl=dpl_D6YG7rhC2PHhYinyL2amzkvPWqaT) - ![Dennis Leise](https://awardspring.com/_astro/dennis-leise.BHDEMROY_Z2vFA8z.webp?dpl=dpl_D6YG7rhC2PHhYinyL2amzkvPWqaT) - ![Doris Espiritu, Controller](https://awardspring.com/_astro/doris-espiritu.j_Cj44IO_Z12TGxX.webp?dpl=dpl_D6YG7rhC2PHhYinyL2amzkvPWqaT) - ![Gil Rogers](https://awardspring.com/_astro/gil-rogers.CIund8yH_5pVzu.webp?dpl=dpl_D6YG7rhC2PHhYinyL2amzkvPWqaT) - ![Iliana Amador](https://awardspring.com/_astro/iliana-amador.eqnzieq1_TLXcF.webp?dpl=dpl_D6YG7rhC2PHhYinyL2amzkvPWqaT) - ![Joe Schlidt](https://awardspring.com/_astro/joe-schlidt.DiQ4lK-l_2uosYt.webp?dpl=dpl_D6YG7rhC2PHhYinyL2amzkvPWqaT) - ![Joseph Albury](https://awardspring.com/_astro/joseph-albury.MiTeB4bi_1kTV1U.webp?dpl=dpl_D6YG7rhC2PHhYinyL2amzkvPWqaT) - ![Kailyn Warner](https://awardspring.com/_astro/kailyn-warner.CQHgJHLD_Z19yLer.webp?dpl=dpl_D6YG7rhC2PHhYinyL2amzkvPWqaT) - ![Kelsi Harris](https://awardspring.com/_astro/kelsi-harris.B0CZPtU4_Z2vFCYz.webp?dpl=dpl_D6YG7rhC2PHhYinyL2amzkvPWqaT) - ![Kevin Finnegan](https://awardspring.com/_astro/kevin-finnegan.mJmpvYUZ_Z1JDWeA.webp?dpl=dpl_D6YG7rhC2PHhYinyL2amzkvPWqaT) - ![Kevin Martin, President](https://awardspring.com/_astro/kevin-martin.yUg3Kd1p_c56rQ.webp?dpl=dpl_D6YG7rhC2PHhYinyL2amzkvPWqaT) - ![Lora Barber](https://awardspring.com/_astro/lora-barber.CnmuMJwg_pVjeF.webp?dpl=dpl_D6YG7rhC2PHhYinyL2amzkvPWqaT) - ![Marina Pavićević](https://awardspring.com/_astro/marina-pavi-evi.PtXZQVyB_ZUhQI6.webp?dpl=dpl_D6YG7rhC2PHhYinyL2amzkvPWqaT) - ![Mike Frame](https://awardspring.com/_astro/mike-frame.B6Sgq02T_Z2fSuUr.webp?dpl=dpl_D6YG7rhC2PHhYinyL2amzkvPWqaT) - ![Milan Bhatnagar](https://awardspring.com/_astro/milan-bhatnagar.E39UQ-5G_1iuHel.webp?dpl=dpl_D6YG7rhC2PHhYinyL2amzkvPWqaT) - ![Reid Smithe](https://awardspring.com/_astro/reid-smithe.CUPLQCBX_qHsyR.webp?dpl=dpl_D6YG7rhC2PHhYinyL2amzkvPWqaT) - ![Samantha Lucas](https://awardspring.com/_astro/samantha-lucas.DNlnG8Eu_Z3jn3m.webp?dpl=dpl_D6YG7rhC2PHhYinyL2amzkvPWqaT) - ![Tessa Fedchenko](https://awardspring.com/_astro/tessa-fedchenko.D9N1gvdS_XYR0f.webp?dpl=dpl_D6YG7rhC2PHhYinyL2amzkvPWqaT) - ![Traci Richards](https://awardspring.com/_astro/traci-richards.D01JyXW2_Z2ubyXc.webp?dpl=dpl_D6YG7rhC2PHhYinyL2amzkvPWqaT) - ![Vaughn Zmolek](https://awardspring.com/_astro/vaughn-zmolek.-jZ5AIaO_Zwiz2Y.webp?dpl=dpl_D6YG7rhC2PHhYinyL2amzkvPWqaT) At your service ## We're an extension of your team. Our average response time is 16 minutes. But fast replies are the easy part. What sets us apart is a team that knows higher education firsthand, takes your goals seriously, and stays in step with how you actually work, from your first conversation onward. Careers ## Join our team We're building something that matters to higher education. [View open positions](https://awardspring.com/careers) ## Connect your work with the Fund Platform. [Request a Demo](https://awardspring.com/demo)