PKD Foundation Announces New Chief Development Officer

KANSAS CITY, Mo., March 20, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The PKD Foundation is pleased to announce Michelle Davis has been named Chief Development Officer, effective April 16th.

The PKD Foundation is a Kansas City-based nonprofit organization which funds Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) research and provides a variety of programs to serve the PKD community. PKD is a lifethreatening genetic disease affecting 12.5 million men, women and children worldwide.

Davis brings extensive knowledge of the non-profit sector to her new role at the PKD Foundation. Most recently, she served as Executive Director for Nonprofit Connect, a Kansas City-based organization aimed at providing services to nonprofits across the metropolitan region. During her seven-year tenure with the agency, Davis worked aggressively to reposition the agency locally through efforts which included launching a capital campaign and developing the Philanthropy Awards luncheon into one of Kansas City's largest luncheon events.

Davis began her career in 1997 with the National Kidney Foundation, serving in national fundraising roles, culminating as Affiliate Development Director providing fundraising counsel to 51 local Affiliates throughout the country. During the final year of her four-year tenure with the organization, Davis served as the Affiliate Education Director training local and national staff and volunteers on fundraising and nonprofit management.

In making the announcement, PKD Foundation President and CEO Gary Godsey said: "The PKD Foundation is very fortunate to have someone of Michelle's professional background and caliber joining our team. I am confident that she will provide outstanding leadership in every respect."

Davis was named one of Ingram Magazine's Top 40 under 40 in Kansas City in 2007. She graduated cum laude from Missouri State University in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Communication.

ABOUT THE PKD FOUNDATION
Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) affects one in 500 people worldwide, regardless of gender, age or ethnicity. More than 600,000 Americans and 12.5 million people around the world suffer from this debilitating genetic disease. The PKD Foundation is dedicated to research to find a treatment and a cure for PKD in addition to education, advocacy and awareness to support the patients and family living with the disease. More information is available at www.pkdcure.org.

SOURCE PKD Foundation