Welcome to TLCNJ's new Director of Development and Communications, Amber Ray! Amber is a nonprofit fundraising and engagement specialist. Throughout her career as a journalist, editor, and nonprofit development and communications director, she has curated the skills that not only bring stories to life, but also inspire people to act. She is passionate about—and an expert in—growing support for mission-driven work.
Amber grew up exploring the wilds of Pennsylvania before heading to Temple University for big city adventures. With a bachelor’s degree in journalism, she honed her writing, editing, and leadership skills at a daily newspaper, guiding newsrooms in NYC, Philadelphia, and Boston. Amber then served as an editor at iVillage (NBCUniversal) and Entertainment Weekly before beginning her nonprofit career at the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference. For 7 years she set and guided the strategy for all messaging and collateral to consistently articulate the Trail Conference’s mission and strengthen its fundraising.
"I am thrilled to start a new chapter in my career at The Land Conservancy of New Jersey, an organization I've long admired for its commitment to ensuring the people who live and recreate in the nation's most densely populated state can enjoy the benefits of protected natural areas," Amber says.
Amber lives in Warwick, NY, with her husband, daughter, and many pets. You can often find her on the trails running or sharing nature with her daughter and their Girl Scout troop.