Williams named Director of Development

Having been involved in fundraising for over a decade, Mike Williams will be bringing his expertise to his new role as Director of Development at the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank.

In his new position, the 34-year-old Williams will be leading all fundraising activities including corporate and individual giving, major gifts, grants and planned giving for the Food Bank.

“I am extremely excited to have Mike join our team,” said Kent Eikenberry, president and CEO of the Food Bank. “He brings with him several years of non-profit fund raising experience but, more importantly, he brings passion to support our mission. I look forward to the opportunity to work with and learn from Mike.”

Prior to coming to the Food Bank, Williams worked for two and a half years at Workmatters, a faith-based non-profit that helps leaders find God’s purpose and meaning in their work. A native of Memphis, Tenn., he was going to college and working at FedEx Express when the company presented him with the opportunity to serve as a volunteer fundraiser for the United Way of the Mid-South in Memphis.Working in fundraising for three months resulted in a job offer in 2005 from United Way to pursue fundraising on a full-time basis.

Williams liked the idea because it would raise funds to help people like his single mom who struggled to make ends meet. “I loved having the opportunity to connect donors to organizations that are helping people in dire need.” he said.

In 2010, he had the opportunity to move to Northwest Arkansas where he was named vice president of resource development with United Way of Northwest Arkansas, heading up all fundraising activities for the local chapter. He did that for four years and then received a call from Workmatters to be its development director.

He and his wife, Allison, have been married for 11 years and have four children, Brett, 8, Eli, 6, Beau, 4, and Katie Scarlett, 1. He is an active member of Fellowship Bible Church in Rogers where he serves as a community group coach. He is a past board member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals NWA Chapter and the Rogers Lowell Chamber of Commerce as well as past chairman of NWA Emerging Leaders. When he started his fund-raising work, Williams put his college career on hold, but is now in the middle of completing a double major in management and marketing at Missouri Southern State University in Joplin. While one of his greatest joys in life is being a dad, he also enjoys fishing as a hobby.