NPR hires Rachel Evans as CDO

Rachel Evans will join NPR as CDO Nov. 17. 

She most recently worked as chief revenue & development officer at Teach For America and was CEO of CityBridge Education. Evans, a former White House Fellow who served as chief of staff to the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, is also an officer and chaplain candidate in the U.S. Army Reserve. 

“I’m thrilled to join NPR at a moment when access to high-quality, nonprofit journalism is more essential than ever for the health of our democracy,” Evans said in an NPR press release announcing her appointment Thursday. “I’m especially passionate about the opportunity to support public radio stations that are lifelines for communities across America where local news sources are increasingly scarce.”  

“Rachel’s experience in strategic development for organizations with essential, outcome-driven missions is well aligned with our goals and the opportunity of this moment,” said NPR CEO Katherine Maher in the release. “I’m excited to partner with her in advancing fundraising efforts that will safeguard independent journalism and sustain the ability of NPR and Member stations to provide high-quality news and programming in service to the American public.”  

NPR’s previous CDO, Leora Hanser, left the organization earlier this year for Planned Parenthood.