Teresa Stafford first joined the Bentonville Library Foundation as a fund development consultant in 2014 and then became the Foundation’s executive director in February 2017. Teresa is a certified fundraising executive with over 27 years of leadership experience as a development specialist in nonprofit and higher education fund development. Her experience includes Senior Associate Director of Planned and Major Gifts at Northwestern University, Assistant Dean for Advancement for Loyola University Chicago’s School of Law and Quinlan Business School, Director of Development and External Relations at the University of Arkansas, and Chief Advancement Officer for Circle of Life Hospice.     

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In 1973 Teresa’s family moved to Northwest Arkansas when her parents started a small business in Fayetteville – Stafford and Associates, which included the Star Shopper. She is a graduate of Northwestern University and has graduate level studies from the University of Arkansas. Teresa holds a professional certification in Fundraising Management from Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. She also is certified in Nonprofit Executive Leadership from Indiana University’s Executive Education at the School of Public & Environmental Affairs. She received her professional certification from CFRE International and holds an MBA certificate from the Quinlan School of Business. She has also been an instructor at the University of Arkansas for the See Change Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership Management.