N.D. 4-H Foundation names new executive director

Meredith Gilroy has been named executive director of the North Dakota 4-H Foundation.

Her primary role is to develop relationships that lead to increased private financial support for 4-H youth development programs in the state.

The foundation is a nonprofit volunteer organization that secures and manages private funding to support 4-H programming.

“We are excited to have Meredith on board to lead the foundation’s efforts in raising private funds to support North Dakota’s 4-H program,” says Brad Cogdill, chair of the North Dakota State University Extension Service’s Center for 4-H Youth Development. “I look forward to working with her and the 4-H Foundation board of directors to continue to build the foundation’s resources.”

Gilroy previously was operations manager for DesignWise Medical, a nonprofit pediatric medical device development company in Loretto, Minn. She was the organization’s first paid employee to manage fundraising activities and its day-to-day operations.

Prior to that, she was involved in other nonprofit work, including serving as development associate at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, graduate assistant and volunteer coordinator at the University of North Dakota Center for Involvement and Leadership, and a special events intern at the UND Alumni Association and Foundation.

She earned a bachelor of arts degree in political science and philosophy, with a minor in nonprofit leadership, and a master of public administration degree from UND. She also holds a certificate in fundraising from the University of St. Thomas.