April Strickland is CBF’s director of major giving for Hampton Roads and the Eastern Shore of Virginia. She has been with CBF since October 2017. In that time and in her work prior to joining CBF, April has worked in all facets of fundraising from annual giving to gift planning to major gifts fundraising to capital campaign development and implementation. April is passionate about connecting people with CBF’s mission and collaborating with philanthropists to bring their philanthropic visions to life.

April was instrumental to the campaigns for notable innovative additions to CBF: the Macon and Joan Brock Classroom; the Prudence H. and Louis F. Ryan Mobile Oyster Restoration Center; the first green vessel in CBF’s fleet, Macon Memories; and the Brock Environmental Center Oyster Path. April has led fundraising efforts for Clean the Bay Day and the CBF Climate Lecture Series.

Prior to joining CBF, April worked in fundraising at the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center and the Virginia Beach SPCA. She holds a degree in urban affairs from Virginia Tech. Her favorite place to explore in the watershed is the low tide tidepools and runnels in Ocean Park.