Angeli K. Chin drives fundraising and engagement at Ding Darling Wildlife Society

Influential Women is spotlighting Angeli K. Chin, the Events, Marketing & Grants Manager for the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society–Friends of the Refuge in Southwest Florida. The profile highlights her record fundraising results, donor engagement work, and role in supporting conservation education at the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge. Why it matters: - Angeli K. Chin’s work sits at the intersection of fundraising, public engagement and conservation support for the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge. - The profile says her efforts have helped DDWS strengthen donor relationships, expand visibility and support long-term sustainability. - Her role matters for Southwest Florida because the refuge and surrounding community continue to navigate Hurricane Ian recovery and changing engagement needs. What happened: - Influential Women highlighted Angeli K. Chin, the Events, Marketing & Grants Manager for the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society–Friends of the Refuge in Southwest Florida. - The June 12, 2026 profile frames Chin as an award-winning marketing, public relations and nonprofit development leader with more than 20 years of experience. - Chin leads donor engagement, oversees signature events, manages a grant portfolio and works with regional partners on conservation education and environmental stewardship. - The profile says Chin has broken fundraising records for four consecutive major events since joining DDWS. The details: - Chin’s background includes work in New York City’s fashion industry and a publishing program at New York University. - After moving from New York to Florida, Chin restarted her career as an intern at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center. - One early assignment involved supporting a $250,000 wedding giveaway that required major logistics and coordination. - Chin also served on the core executive team behind Zombicon, a downtown Fort Myers festival that drew tens of thousands of attendees and raised money for local arts and music education. - Her DDWS work includes elevating storytelling strategies, deepening donor engagement and redesigning campaigns and experiences. - The profile says Chin has helped organizations expand email databases by tens of thousands of contacts, lift digital engagement metrics and exceed sponsorship and revenue goals. - Chin credits DDWS executive director Ann-Marie Wildman as a mentor and says the leadership environment has been one of the most meaningful parts of her career. - Chin’s stated leadership values are accountability, integrity and transparency. - Outside work, Chin spends time singing and dancing with her children, painting, reading, cooking, and spending time in nature. - More information is available through her Influential Women profile . Between the lines: - The profile is as much about leadership branding as it is about a single job title, positioning Chin as a strategist whose value comes from combining storytelling with revenue generation. - Her emphasis on constraints, adaptability and community partnerships reflects the realities of nonprofit work tied to federally managed land. - The piece also suggests DDWS is using communications and events as core tools for fundraising, not as support functions. What’s next: - Chin is likely to keep focusing on donor engagement, event strategy and grant management as DDWS advances its conservation mission. - The profile points to continued work around recovery, compliance and partnership-building in Southwest Florida. - The article signals that DDWS will keep leaning on storytelling and community ties to sustain fundraising momentum. The bottom line: - Influential Women is elevating Chin as a nonprofit communications leader whose mix of fundraising results, event execution and conservation advocacy has become central to DDWS’s work.