ALA names new development director
Contact: Larra Clark
ALA Media Relations Manager
312-280-5043
For Immediate Release
December 19, 2005
ALA names new development director
(CHICAGO) The American Library Association (ALA) is pleased to announce it has named Joan Claffey as the new director for the ALA Development Office. Claffey will start January 17, 2006, and will attend the ALA Midwinter Meeting in San Antonio, January 20 – 25, 2006.
Claffey most recently served as the senior development director for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at DePaul University. In that position, she raised almost $600,000 in her first 11 months of fundraising. She developed annual and long-range major gifts fundraising and oversaw the identification, cultivation and stewardship of major gifts and donations to the largest school at DePaul. She also was responsible for fundraising for the Art Museum and Special Collections at DePaul University's Library.
Previously, she served four years as the director of Council Relations for the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business. While there she worked to raise $150 million toward a $250 million capital campaign goal. She also has worked with YWCA of Metropolitan Chicago, Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc., and Bloomingdale's.
“Joan comes to ALA with extensive experience in the world of higher education and an impressive track record in raising funds for a variety of organizations. When combined with her interest in and commitment to libraries, these skills will make her a great asset to ALA and its members,” said ALA Executive Director Keith Michael Fiels. “Under Joan's leadership, we look forward to continuing growth in outside support for the Association's efforts to advocate for libraries, promote literacy and reading, and increase public awareness of the value of libraries and librarians.”
The Development Office director is responsible for planning, coordinating, implementing and evaluating all association fundraising activities, programs, projects and events. Major functional duties include grants, bequests, sponsorships, endowments, donor relations and Library Champions. The position reports to the ALA executive director.
