Leigh Kirchner

Leigh Kirchner

Leigh joined CIMA in 2021 and serves as Director of Development Consulting, where she partners with nonprofit leaders to strengthen fundraising efforts across institutional and individual giving. She brings a decade of experience spanning grants, major gifts, and membership programs, with a particular focus on environmental and advocacy organizations. Prior to CIMA, Leigh held development leadership roles at Blue Ridge Area Food Bank and Appalachian Voices. She is especially interested in helping organizations translate their impact into compelling, funder-facing narratives and in building strong, collaborative teams that can sustain long-term growth. Leigh is a supporter and board member at Wild Virginia, where she previously served as Treasurer from 2020-2025. She has a bachelor of arts in English from Virginia Commonwealth University and a master of arts in Appalachian Studies from Appalachian State University.