Chris Mechsner

Chris Mechsner is the Chief Technology Officer at NextAfter, where he leads technology and innovation strategies to help nonprofits scale. With over 20 years of experience in building software and growing successful companies, Chris is passionate about creating tools that simplify technology and drive meaningful results for nonprofits.

As the co-founder and lead engineer behind RaiseDonors, Chris (and co-founder Stephen Boudreau) built a platform that enabled nonprofits to raise over $1B dollars online. Under his leadership, RaiseDonors scaled rapidly and was ultimately acquired by Virtuous, where Chris continued as Vice President of Giving. At Virtuous, he helped drive product innovation and supported the company’s rapid growth as it became a leading CRM and fundraising platform.

Before that, Chris co-founded and led Ascendio Agency with Stephen Boudreau, where he helped some of the largest faith-based radio ministries grow through digital strategies for donor acquisition, content distribution, and online commerce. Earlier in his career, Chris served as Director of Technology for Field Crusades at the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, where he developed platforms to manage tens of thousands of churches and volunteers nationwide.

Chris brings a unique combination of engineering expertise, strategic leadership, and a deep understanding of nonprofit challenges. His focus is on building solutions that empower nonprofits to scale their mission with confidence and clarity.