Julie Parr promoted to Senior Vice President, Development; Elyse Poinsett promoted to Vice President, Digital Revenue and Operations

NPR Chief Development Officer Rachel Evans announced that Julie Parr has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Development and Elyse Poinsett has been promoted to Vice President, Digital Revenue and Operations.

“Julie and Elyse have both demonstrated outstanding leadership,” said Evans, “and they have each been integral to our phenomenal success growing donor support through an especially critical period for our organization and our Network. Julie has a combination of skills that make her uniquely positioned to lead our frontline fundraising efforts in this moment. She closes transformational gifts while simultaneously building the capacity of our entire team to deepen donor relationships and drive sustainable revenue growth. Elyse has been responsible for modernizing the operational infrastructure of our digital philanthropy efforts — consistently exceeding revenue goals and setting new records along the way — while simultaneously leading work across audience revenue, collaborative philanthropy, and development operations.”

Parr will continue to serve as a key strategic partner to the Chief Development Officer, working with the NPR Foundation, and leading work across teams responsible for major gifts, institutional giving, planned giving, and donor communications. She joined NPR as Vice President of Development in 2023, bringing more than two decades of experience in philanthropy and a track record of raising multimillion-dollar gifts at universities, hospitals, and other non-profit organizations, including Yale University and the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and Pennsylvania Hospital. In 2025, Parr also served as interim leader of NPR’s Development team, leading multiple record-breaking fundraising pushes during a critical moment for the NPR Network.

“I’ve been an NPR listener for decades and believe that independent and fact-based journalism is a public good and essential to a healthy democracy,” said Parr. “To be entrusted with helping sustain NPR’s future is both humbling and deeply personal.I’m grateful to work alongside generous donors, journalists, and development colleagues who care so profoundly about protecting this institution on behalf of the public.”

As Vice President, Digital Revenue and Operations, Poinsett will focus on scaling and strengthening the operational infrastructure of NPR’s revenue and fundraising efforts to sustain long-term growth. Poinsett is an experienced nonprofit leader specializing in digital philanthropy, marketing strategy, and audience development. She has driven innovation and enhanced user experience for NPR’s digital fundraising tools, engaging new donors and bringing in significant new revenue for NPR and its Member organizations. Poinsett joined NPR in 2020. Her background in public media also includes prior roles at Greater Public and WHYY, in Philadelphia.

“NPR’s mission is more relevant today than it has ever been,” said Poinsett. “Throughout my career in public media, I’ve witnessed the irreplaceable role NPR and its Members have in communities. It’s a privilege to be able to champion that work and fuel public radio for generations to come.”

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