Our Staff

Carleigh McDonald

Managing Director IOCC

Carleigh joined Island Conservation in January 2023, bringing with her 14 years of experience in major gift fundraising and building collaborative partnerships. She has had the privilege to raise millions for conservation, environmental policy, and education initiatives. Most recently, she developed strategic plans as a Senior Director of Advancement at California College of the Arts to lead an Individual Giving team in a comprehensive capital campaign. Her previous fundraising roles included the California Academy of Sciences and Ocean Conservancy where she enjoyed working alongside scientists to share their stories and impact. She is eager to accelerate the Island-Ocean Connection Challenge and work collectively with partners and funders to link restoration work from ridge to reef.

Carleigh earned a BA in International Communications and Non-profit Management from the University of San Diego. Her love for travel and cultural anthropology began as a student at Oxford University and sailing around the world with Semester at Sea. She’s passionate about engaging youth with science and nature which led her to volunteer as an EnvironMentor with the National Council for Science and the Environment and become a certified Nature Guide with Wildcare.

She currently calls Denver, CO her home base and can be found hiking local trails with her dog, Maggie Mae, seeking out new canyoneering routes, and finding excuses to scuba dive in warm waters.