Philanthropy is a journey of joyful discovery that shapes us as we move from giving to sharing. CoxNichols facilitates this journey by helping you focus your altruism on a foundation of mutually nourishing collaboration where both the giver and the recipient are blessed through sharing.
Larry Cox, Ph.D.
Larry Cox has served in leadership roles with three of Chick-fil-A’s philanthropic organizations since 2005. He retired as President/CEO of Lifeshape, Inc. on December 31, 2018.
Over the past 30 years, Larry has traveled in 130 countries, and he has lived in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. He has led conferences in over 80 countries. Cox’s professional experience includes nonprofit startups, coaching and mentoring, community development, business training, strategic planning, high net worth family consultancy, leadership consultancy and training, publishing, market and product development, public relations, media relations, fundraising, and crisis management.
Larry earned a Ph.D. in university administration from the University of Mississippi, a Master’s degree in agricultural education from Mississippi State University, a Master’s degree in education from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a Bachelor of Science degree from Mississippi College. In addition, he completed one year of linguistics training in French at the Institut de Touraine, Tours, France.
Dr. Cox has had a life-long interest in building relationships and transforming lives of people around the world. Throughout his career he has served on the board of a number of global relief and development organizations, foundations and Christian nonprofits. Today he continues to work in mobilizing and equipping global leaders who desire to lead within their own culture in business, politics, ministry and public service.
Larry and his wife, Cheryl, reside in Rome, Georgia where they enjoy hosting their 16 grandchildren.
Todd Nichols, Ph.D.
Todd Nichols has over 30 years invested in nonprofit and for-profit management. His career spans the globe assisting philanthropists with strategy, project due diligence, and evaluation. He also has assisted nonprofits with strategy, board development, outcome evaluation, as well as grant development.
He spent over five years in the nonprofit sector working in the inner-cities of Chicago, Illinois and Orlando, Florida. He has worked as a Program Officer at a private family foundation and has represented multiple philanthropists on various projects. Todd has worked with university executives, deans, and faculty in establishing a university-wide foundation and research development program and has assisted in the implementation of multiple international leadership and organization expansion projects.
Mr. Nichols’ work as it relates to philanthropic services has taken him around the world. His primary focus has been on U.S. and international nonprofit due diligence, strategy, and research. He has traveled extensively throughout countries in Central America, Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. Mr. Nichols brings many years of nonprofit and foundation experience to his clients as well as knowledge in cultural diversity.
Todd also has over ten years of qualitative and quantitative research experience working in national and international environments. He has engaged in research and nonprofit due diligence in the countries of Burkina Faso, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Ghana, Guatemala, Haiti, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Malta, Morocco, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Qatar, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Spain, Thailand, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and the United States.
He holds a BS in Liberal Arts from Southeastern University, as well as an MBA and Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership from Regent University. He resides in the mountains of western North Carolina with his wife and family, and he enjoys spending quality time outdoors with loved ones and friends.
MaryJo Burchard, Ph.D.
MaryJo Burchard has spent more than 30 years equipping leaders and teams in nonprofit, corporate, educational, and government settings. After spending three years in Japan and Taiwan, she invested over 20 years working with church leaders in numerous denominations, and spent a decade working in higher education. Her focus gradually shifted into full-time organizational and leadership consulting. MaryJo’s experience includes work in organizational research and diagnosis, change leadership, building trust, missional alignment, strategic planning and execution, executive coaching and team development, process improvement, and conflict resolution. A sought-after keynote speaker, she has also developed and delivered numerous trainings and workshops for universities, global conferences, and organizations. MaryJo has served on faculty for the Academy of Nonprofit Excellence and was content editor for the Theology of Leadership Journal for several years.
MaryJo’s Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership is from Regent University, where she still chairs doctoral dissertations in organizational leadership. She holds an MA in Leadership and Organizational Studies, a graduate certificate in Conflict Management in the Workplace, and a BA in Management and Organizational Development from Fresno Pacific University. She was the organizational recovery consultant for the City of Virginia Beach for several months following the mass shooting event in 2019. This past year, she worked directly with Ukrainian counselors to develop resilience-building resources for displaced refugees. Her desire is to help leaders, organizations, and communities thrive. MaryJo and her husband, Kenny, live with their Ukrainian-born son, Victor, in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
We have known Todd for many years ever since he beneficially worked worldwide for our Foundation. Todd is an excellent professional with not only organizational talents but a true discerning pastor’s heart as he reaches out to help others. Todd has endless energy & sharp focus for getting to the bottom line and he is respectful and visionary when it comes to completing the job and dealing well with people. His consistent push to gain increased education & many contacts has also served him well as he works to assist others with their giving.