As Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer, Richard Bland leads all external affairs in the execution of a comprehensive revenue and communications strategy for WETA. He oversees four vice presidents and approximately 60 staff members across the major and planned giving, membership marketing and development services, corporate marketing, foundations and government development, licensing, production fundraising, creative design, and communications departments. He reports to President and Chief Executive Officer Sharon Percy Rockefeller. Under Bland’s leadership, WETA has achieved the highest level of giving (from the highest number of donors) in its 60+ year history.
Bland has a distinguished record of executive non-profit management and advocacy. Before joining WETA, Bland served as Chief Operating Officer of the Washington National Cathedral, leading the senior management team of the world’s sixth largest cathedral. He previously oversaw public and private fundraising as Chief Operating Officer of The Faith and Politics Institute and as National Director of Policy, Advocacy and Development for Save the Children’s United States programs. He formerly served as Director of Federal Government Relations at the YMCA of the USA and as Deputy Chief of Staff for United States Senator Patrick Moynihan. Bland earned a Bachelor of Arts from Bowdoin College, a Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia, and a Masters in Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School. A longtime Washingtonian, Bland and his family live in Bethesda and are active members of St. David’s Episcopal Church.