Walt Gillette, Development Director

He has enjoyed a 25-year career in public media, serving as a DEI philanthropic fundraising advisor for public media stations since early 2001. Previous employment in the system includes the Florida Public Broadcasting Service, the Friends of WLRN in South Florida, and WUWF in Pensacola/Ft. Walton Beach, Fla.

His fundraising career also includes work for the American Red Cross, the American Lung Association of Florida, and the Department of Defense Overseas Shows program in Okinawa, Japan. Other employment includes operating a Zamboni Ice Resurfacer, teaching SCUBA as a PADI Open Water Instructor, and serving a tour as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Walt is an active volunteer leader within the profession and is a current member of the Education and Training Committee of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Advancement Division. Prior AFP service includes one term on the International Board of Directors, Chair of the Education and Training Committee, Chair of the Quality Assurance Task Force, co-chair of the AFP Collegiate Chapter Task Force, two terms on the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy Board of Trustees, three years as Chair of the AFP Foundation Donor Relations Committee, two years as Chair of the AFP Communications & Marketing Committee, and service on the AFP Leadership Academy Task Force.

He originally received his Certified Fund Raising Executive designation in 1995. In October 2008, he achieved certification as the 82nd Advanced Certified Fund Raising Executive (ACFRE) worldwide. Following the completion of the AFP Faculty Training Academy in 2002, he received the designation of AFP Master Teacher. Walt is a member of the AFP Washington DC Metro Chapter. He was recently appointed to serve on the Board of Directors for America’s Charities.

Walt received the Public Radio Association of Development Officer’s Award as the Outstanding Public Radio Development Professional in July 2005, and was named the AFP (then NSFRE) West Florida Chapter's Outstanding Fund Raising Professional in 1998.

He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Music from the University of Maryland in 1981, and a Master of Arts in Communication Arts from the University of West Florida in 1996.

Walt played trumpet and flugelhorn in the Maryland Community Band and served seven years as the first Chairman of the MCB Board of Directors. The Band traveled to China in June 2008, during which the band performed in Beijing and Shanghai as part of a Washington, D.C., musical salute to the Olympics.