Sylvia BennettSenior Fellow, Western New York

Senior Vice President & Chief Development Officer, Buffalo Toronto Public Media

Sylvia Bennett is currently Senior Vice President & Chief Development Officer at Buffalo Toronto Public Media (WNED and WBFO). She has been in the public broadcasting system for over 30 years. Sylvia has worked for several key PBS/NPR stations, beginning in her hometown of San Francisco at KQED, continuing to WETA in Washington, D.C., and then to the corporate PBS headquarters in Arlington, VA. Her professional experience encompasses positions in development, production, programming, and corporate communications. She joined WNED in January 2007 and was a part of the team until October 2017. After leaving the public broadcasting system for two years, Sylvia returned to WNED in August 2019. As Chief Development Officer, Sylvia leads, mentors, and manages a staff of fundraising professionals, which include development disciplines for planned giving, membership, on-air fundraising pledges, foundation development, capital campaign, major gifts, corporate support, fundraising events, and volunteer services.