Bud Heckman is a renowned expert in fostering interfaith cooperation to reduce prejudice, discrimination, and hatred. He has worked with various foundations and non-profits to develop empathy towards the marginalized and vulnerable communities. Bud's primary focus has been on advancing interfaith cooperation as a field, movement, and social norm in leading non-profits, academic and government settings, and throughout the field of philanthropy.

Bud holds several formal degrees in various domains such as Theology and Biblical Studies, Religious Studies, Philosophy, Psychology, and Nonprofit Leadership Development. He has also undergone many additional educational programs focused on areas like water crisis, interreligious dialogue, fundraising, and grant seeking.

Throughout his career, Bud has held multiple leadership positions among several national and international interfaith organizations, some of which include The Tri-Faith Initiative, International Shinto Foundation, El-Hibri Foundation, Religions for Peace USA, Religions for Peace - USA, and Hartford Seminary.

Bud's primary undertaking, however, has been the creation and management of the Interfaith Funders Group, which supports nonprofits and foundations in achieving their interfaith missions. He is also an Ordained Deacon and Elder at the West Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church.