Annual Giving and Development Coordinator

Leah M. Doney-Neel

Leah Doney-Neel Since her 7th grade research paper on dolphins, Leah wanted to “save the environment.” She carried this determination with her to college, obtaining a BS in international environmental studies with an emphasis on international environmental and resource policy, complimented with extensive coursework in Native American studies, from Cook College, Rutgers University.

She left her home state of New Jersey and moved to Northern Virginia in 1998 to work for Earth Force, a nonprofit organization that engages young people as active citizens in environmental issues. While at Earth Force, she helped spearhead the Get Out Spoke’n! campaign, an effort to get youth nationwide involved in making their communities bicycle friendly. She then worked as a contractor for the National Environmental Trust, working on the Pollution Solutions Tour, a one-year, nationwide traveling campaign showcasing the latest in environmentally friendly technology as a means to reduce the impact of global warming. In 2000, Leah joined Community Rights Counsel, a nonprofit, public interest law firm that was formed to assist communities in protecting their health and welfare.

Being tired of the fast-paced life of Washington, DC, Leah and her husband wanted out. Upon seeing the beauty of Alaska in a movie, Leah, her husband, one cat, and one dog boldly picked up camp and drove to Alaska in August 2005, where she promptly joined the Alaska Conservation Foundation team that September. Her primary task at ACF is managing the annual giving, which consists of coordinating the internal and external aspects of fund appeals, membership acquisition, and membership renewals. She also assists with coordinating the Annual Conservation Achievement Awards Banquet and helps spearhead that nomination process.

Leah lives in Wasilla with her husband Scott, son Zachary, one cat, and one dog. Her favorite pastime is baking, with which she has taken home both First and Second Place ribbons in the annual Alaska State Fair. In her spare time she enjoys reading, music, studying Native American cultures, bicycling, walking, hiking, digital scrapbooking, and playing the flute, and is an avid New Jersey Devils fan.