CHRIS McLEOD, J.D., Executive Director

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704-973-4521

As executive director of The Greater Charlotte Cultural Trust since 2006, Chris McLeod works with the boards and staff of more than 25 cultural organizations to build endowments through planned giving. Currently, the Cultural Trust invests and manages cultural endowments in excess of $147 million. An attorney with more than 18 years of fundraising experience, Chris works closely with donors and donor families who are interested in making meaningful bequests or planned gifts to one or more of their favorite cultural organizations.

Chris is Founder of The Institute for Philanthropic Leadership and its inaugural program, The Leadership Gift School, a program designed to teach nonprofit executive directors and development directors in Charlotte-Mecklenburg how to cultivate individual donors for major gifts. She is Immediate Past Chair for Leave A Legacy – Charlotte Region and a member of the Partnership for Philanthropic Planning (formerly National Committee for Planned Giving), the North Carolina Planned Giving Council, the Association of Fundraising Professionals and the Maryland Bar Association. Chris is also an active member of the Women’s Impact Fund.

Chris earned her B.A. in Political Science from Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts and a J.D. from American University in Washington, D.C.

ILANA Y. VALINSKY, Donor Relations Coordinator

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704.973.4503

Ilana Valinsky is the donor relations coordinator for The Greater Charlotte Cultural Trust. Her responsibilities include managing all communication with donors to the Cultural Facilities Campaign, planned giving prospects and the Cultural Trust’s nonprofit organizations. Ilana also provides administrative and project support.

Prior to joining the Cultural Trust, Ilana worked for Carolinas HealthCare System in patient accounting and the Levine Jewish Community Center in customer and membership services.

Ilana graduated in 2008 with a B.A. in English from Davidson College where she was a Bonner Scholar. As a requirement of the four-year community scholarship, Ilana completed 460 hours of direct service annually as a volunteer and intern with Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium. In high school, Ilana raised over $45,000 for the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America, an organization important to her family.

Currently, Ilana serves on the Marketing and Executive Committees for the Charlotte Jewish Film Festival. She is also a member of the Young Affiliates of the Mint (YAMs).