Leadership and Service
Leadership shaped by the field
The Library Support Network is led by people who understand public library fundraising from direct experience.
Our board, staff, advisors, and volunteer leaders help guide LSN as it grows from pilot to permanence and builds practical support for the people raising money for public libraries.
Founder and CEO
Jonna Ward
Founder, President, and CEO
Jonna Ward leads the Library Support Network’s work to build the field of public library fundraising. She brings more than two decades of experience in public library development, foundation leadership, and field-building work.
Before launching LSN as an independent nonprofit, Jonna helped steward the early efforts that led to the International Public Library Fundraising Conference, Library Giving Day, and the LSN pilot community.
Leadership approach
Built with the people doing the work
LSN’s leadership model reflects the way the Network itself is being built: peer-led, practical, collaborative, inclusive, and responsive to what library fundraisers say they need.
That means LSN prioritizes useful tools over theory, broad access over exclusivity, shared learning over one-way instruction, and field-level benefit alongside member value.
Board of Directors
Governed by leaders in public library fundraising
LSN is governed by a Board of Directors that provides strategic oversight, financial stewardship, and guidance as the organization grows. Board members bring direct experience in public library fundraising, foundation leadership, governance, strategy, and field-building.
Dawn Coppin, Ph.D.
Executive Director, San José Public Library Foundation
Natalie Ganz
Chief Strategy and Engagement Officer, Library Foundation SD
Jenni Gaisbauer, CFRE
Executive Director, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation
Tina Gills, CFRE
Development Director, Richland Library
Jonna Ward
Founder, President, and CEO, Library Support Network
Governance overview
Responsible oversight for a growing organization
The Library Support Network incorporated as a Washington State nonprofit organization in 2024 and is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors.
The board provides oversight for strategy, finances, organizational development, and mission alignment. As LSN grows, the board will continue strengthening the governance practices, policies, committees, and leadership structures needed to support a sustainable organization.
Field guidance
Connected to real needs in the field
LSN’s work is shaped by leaders, members, and practitioners from across the public library fundraising field.
Through committees, program planning groups, peer conversations, surveys, and member feedback, LSN continues to test ideas, guide priorities, and keep the work practical, peer-led, and responsive.
Ways to serve
Help shape what LSN becomes
LSN is built with the field, not simply for the field. As membership grows, there will be opportunities for members and sector leaders to help shape programs, share expertise, advise on tools, contribute resources, and support peer learning.
Service
Serve on a committee
Help guide programs, membership, field initiatives, or organizational development.
Programs
Plan programs
Support webinars, convenings, conference sessions, or peer learning opportunities.
Peer learning
Lead peer learning
Help facilitate affinity groups, roundtables, or informal conversations.
Resources
Share practical tools
Contribute templates, examples, case studies, or lessons learned from your work.
Field-building
Advise field projects
Support benchmarking, shared case-building, research, or other field-level work.
Community
Welcome new members
Help connect people to peers, resources, and meaningful ways to engage.
How LSN leads
Practical, peer-led, and responsive
LSN’s leadership is grounded in the same principles that shape its programs and member experience.
Peer-led
Built by and for the people doing the work.
Practical
Focused on useful tools, tested examples, and real-world learning.
Collaborative
Designed to strengthen shared success across the field.
Continue exploring LSN
Learn more about how LSN began, who supports the work, and how your organization can participate.
Read our origin story
See how LSN moved from a shared idea to a growing field-building organization.
See partners and supporters
Learn about the organizations and funders helping make the work possible.
Explore membership
Find the right way for your organization or team to participate in LSN.
Service and participation
Serve with the Network
LSN grows stronger when members and sector leaders share their experience, open doors for others, and help build what public library fundraising needs next.