Leeann Wright

Leeann Wright, Executive Director of the Community Foundation of Pulaski County, has over 20 years of experience in nonprofit management and fundraising. She knows that communities transform when people work collaboratively. Prior to her role at the Community Foundation, she was a fundraising officer for Indiana University Northwest and a major gifts officer at Valparaiso University. She believes in the power of philanthropy and has served and collaborated on boards and committees in every community in which she has lived. Most recently, she became a Court Appointed Special Advocate to serve as a voice for the children in the community who need it most. She is currently pursuing her PhilD, the first professional doctorate for philanthropic and nonprofit professionals, at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University.

Research Focus: “Strengthening Rural Nonprofit Networks in Pulaski County, Indiana Through Strategic Doing”

Leeann’s research centers on rural philanthropy and collaborative problem-solving through the lens of community foundations. Through her RPI Research Fellowship, Leeann will investigate collaborative efforts in Pulaski County, Indiana, and will utilize the method of strategic doing—an action-oriented approach to collaboration focused on identifying shared opportunities, leveraging existing assets, and collectively defining success and how to measure progress. The resulting case study will review the effectiveness of strategic doing practices in rural community collaboration projects where nonprofits are working together to address rural quality-of-life priorities.