With an undergraduate degree in Zoology and a lifelong love of science and nature, Samantha Wright found her niche in the nonprofit sector at the AKC Canine Health Foundation. There, she expanded fundraising and grant programs, developed educational materials and external communications, and led a full rebranding and website refresh. The opportunity to “wear many hats” - a hallmark of small nonprofits - inspired Samantha to pursue a Master of Public Administration and a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Villanova University.

Before joining Armstrong McGuire, Samantha served as Director of Development Operations and Analytics at the FoodBank of Central & Eastern North Carolina. Driven to apply her education and experience to a mission with deep local impact, she led the organization’s development strategies and operations through a period of transformative growth, overseeing a 230% increase in overall giving. Her role at the Food Bank aligned closely with her professional passions: managing data and systems, leading teams, and executing strategic action plans.

Samantha lives in downtown Raleigh with her husband, three German shorthaired pointers, and six chickens. She enjoys running with her dogs, observing her hosted bees from Buddha Bee Apiary, and proudly serves on the board of Raleigh City Farm.