Linda McNeil
A lifelong
Memphian, Linda graduated LeMoyne-Owen College with a business administration
degree and committed herself to working for the betterment of her community.
She was first introduced to fundraising as a brownie scout, but began her
professional fundraising career in LeMoyne-Owen College’s office of alumni
affairs, where she spent seven years. Linda has served as
the chief fundraiser for some of the city’s most noteworthy nonprofits –
BRIDGES, MIFA and the Soulsville Foundation.
In addition to successfully achieving ambitious fundraising goals, she
helped BRIDGES and MIFA launch their endowment campaign. She has
made her mark on the fundraising community at large—she received the
Association of Fundraising Professionals’ 2011 Crystal Award for Fundraising
Executive of the Year. Linda is known for “her quick smile, no-nonsense
attitude to raising funds, her charm, grace, brains, and hard work.”
She is also a
member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, a graduate of New
Memphis Institute’s Fellows and LDI programs and Leadership Memphis, a founding
member of Opus One and Mei-Ann’s Circle of Friends for the Memphis Symphony
Orchestra, a member of Give 365 for the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis
and she’s on the board of Collage Dance. She volunteers regularly with Memphis Prom Closet, and New Direction
Christian Church, where she is a member of the choir.