Deborah Read

Deborah Read is a veteran philanthropy executive who steers Poynter’s global fundraising efforts as chief development officer. With more than 30 years in acquiring major gifts and leading multi-million dollar campaigns, Read oversees Poynter’s philanthropic strategies to secure transformative funding for initiatives promoting journalism education and ethics, newsroom leadership development, media literacy and fact-checking. Read collaborates with Poynter’s Foundation Board and leadership team to design donor cultivation and stewardship plans, generate legacy gifts and build an endowment to ensure the sustainability of the Institute’s important work.

Read has held numerous leadership positions at public and private higher education institutions including California Polytechnic State University, the University of Dayton, SUNY Albany, and, her alma mater, the University of Maryland. Read came to Poynter from the University of South Florida St. Petersburg after leading the university advancement division as regional vice chancellor for five years. She was instrumental in building and implementing resource development systems resulting in the university exceeding its fundraising goals for five consecutive years.