Leigh Wood
Fayetteville,AR
Summary
Self-motivated, passionate, and enthusiastic non-profit professional with 19 years of experience in non-profit management, fundraising, programming, event coordination, problem-solving and community-building. Compassionate team leader with proven record of diversifying non-profit revenue through developing monthly giving programs, major donor cultivation, corporate and foundation support.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Manager, Business Partnership
NPR
03.2024 - Current
- Work with 115 public radio stations from Tennessee to Alaska to keep and increase carriage of NPR programs
- Promote new NPR program, Tiny Desk Radio, and facilitated the addition of the program on 25 public radio stations nationwide
- Establish strong relationships with public radio station leaders across the NPR Network, ensuring long-term partnerships and increasing NPR program carriage
- Utilize station management experience to create strong business plans and communication strategy for Member Partnership team
- Streamline processes and implemented best practices for program carriage, fee negotiations, and organization of contacts and business progress
- Balance competing priorities efficiently while maintaining focus on critical tasks requiring immediate attention
General Manager
KUAF Public Radio
08.2019 - Current
- Oversaw strategy and operations of station staffing and budget, programming, news and music departments, fundraising, operations, marketing and outreach
- Oversaw and develop fundraising strategy, through membership, corporate support, monthly giving, grants, and on-air fundraisers; have increased total fundraising revenue to station by 50% over last three fiscal years
- Oversaw and develop engagement initiatives, including KUAF Connects, sonic IDs, and the Listening Lab, a recording studio similar to StoryCorps; in-person station programming and events including live music performances, live podcast recordings, panel discussions, fundraisers, and digital outreach including videos, social media, daily and weekly newsletters
- Oversaw and develop program series and podcasts, including Reflections in Black, Resilient Black Women, The Future of Money, and weekly music program, The KUAF Vinyl Hour
- Managed communication and relations between departments consisting of 11 full-time employees and 8 part-time employees, multiple community and content partners, station licensee University of Arkansas, and others; prepare press releases, on-air and digital promo copy, on-air fundraising scripts, membership and underwriting communications, and more
- Managed budget implementations, employee reviews, training, schedules, and contract negotiations.
Membership Director
KUAF Public Radio
10.2013 - 09.2019
- Oversaw strategy and implementation of all individual giving to station, gave excellent service to sustaining members, long-time donors, new donors, planned giving prospects and major donors; oversaw all events and on-air fundraisers, as well recruit, train and manage volunteers.
- Oversaw cultivation and maintenance of sustainer program with more than 1,200 members
- Maintained individual donor database and executed daily, weekly, and monthly tasks for renewal, cultivation, and retention of donors
Manager of Donor Engagement
Heifer International
09.2012 - 08.2013
- Managed sustainer donor program of more than 16,000 members, raising $2 million annually
- Oversaw the strategy and production of Heifer direct response television program, including the production of four direct response television commercials featuring footage shot on-site in Rwanda as well as Susan Sarandon speaking on behalf of Heifer International.
Sustainer Donor and Mid-Level Donor Specialist
Heifer International
08.2010 - 09.2012
- Cultivated mid-level donors from a portfolio of 250 in region spanning Tennessee to Florida to Virginia
- Moved to new position after 1 year of employment to manage Heifer's monthly giving program
- Oversaw growth of program both in member numbers and revenue, as well as streamlined processes to maintain donor retention and loyalty
Executive Director
Arkansas Community Arts Cooperative
10.2009 - 04.2010
- Only paid employee of community arts cooperative, developed and expanded Board of Directors, executed grants and grant reporting, oversaw special events schedule, implemented 6-month membership campaign and increased awareness of organization through multichannel marketing efforts
- Developed, wrote, edited, and distributed all communications including press releases, email newsletters, fundraising communications, web copy, and more
Development Specialist, Special Events Manager
KUT Public Media
07.2008 - 08.2009
- Worked with Membership and Development Directors to implement station's fundraising strategy, coordinate volunteers, work with Corporate Support to coordinate outside vendors, and oversaw implementation of all station special events ranging from volunteer appreciation parties to KUT's 50th Anniversary Gala
Membership Director
KUAF Public Radio
01.2006 - 07.2008
- KUAF 91.3 Public Radio, Oversaw entire Membership program including production of on-air fundraisers, direct mail program, volunteer coordination and major donor cultivation.
Co-founder and President
Art Amiss, Inc.
05.2004 - 06.2006
- Co-founded artists' cooperative with mission to give space and opportunity for emerging artists to show and sell their work, commission-free; wrote bylaws and oversaw incorporation of cooperative into 501(c)3, established Board of Directors and served as first President
- Oversaw Art Amiss events I - V, including benefit events; coordinated all communications with media and members; raised funds for creation and implementation of ArtAmiss.org
Education
Master of Arts - English Literature
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
05.2008
Bachelor of Arts - English Literature
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
05.2001
Study Abroad - Irish Poetry
National University of Ireland, Galway
2000
Skills
- Leadership and team building
- Partner development
- Fundraising and grant writing
- Creative problem solving
- Writing and editing
- Communication across multiple channels
- Event planning
- Media and public relations
- Public speaking
Additional Information
- Proficient with Office 365 tools, Adobe Creative Suite, Intuit Quickbooks, Slack, and Content Management Systems
Timeline
Senior Manager, Business Partnership
NPR
03.2024 - Current
General Manager
KUAF Public Radio
08.2019 - Current
Membership Director
KUAF Public Radio
10.2013 - 09.2019
Manager of Donor Engagement
Heifer International
09.2012 - 08.2013
Sustainer Donor and Mid-Level Donor Specialist
Heifer International
08.2010 - 09.2012
Executive Director
Arkansas Community Arts Cooperative
10.2009 - 04.2010
Development Specialist, Special Events Manager
KUT Public Media
07.2008 - 08.2009
Membership Director
KUAF Public Radio
01.2006 - 07.2008
Co-founder and President
Art Amiss, Inc.
05.2004 - 06.2006
Bachelor of Arts - English Literature
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Study Abroad - Irish Poetry
National University of Ireland, Galway
Master of Arts - English Literature
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Similar Profiles
Billie SeelyeBillie Seelye
Production Worker at NPRProduction Worker at NPR
BRENDAN CRUMPBRENDAN CRUMP
Programming/Podcast Strategist at NPRProgramming/Podcast Strategist at NPR
Karen Grigsby BatesKaren Grigsby Bates
Senior Correspondent at NPRSenior Correspondent at NPR
Megan FlemingMegan Fleming
Customer Service Representative / Teller at First State BankCustomer Service Representative / Teller at First State Bank
Russell SchubarthRussell Schubarth
Equipment Operator at Clean Energy ServicesEquipment Operator at Clean Energy Services