Robert N. Hilbert, CFRE, MinstF(AdvDip)
President, Iowa PBS Foundation
Rob has been in the development field since 1997 and with the Iowa PBS Foundation (formerly known as the Iowa Public Television Foundation) since 2002.
As President of the foundation, Rob oversees all aspects of development including membership, corporate support, foundation support, and board development, and major and planned gifts.
Rob served on the PBS Development Advisory Committee from 2013 – 2018 and as chair in 2017.
In 2019, Rob was named the C. Scott Elliott PBS Development Professional of the Year.
Rob is one of the first eight individuals in North America to receive the International Advanced Diploma in Fundraising from a collaboration of the London-based Institute of Fundraising, the Amsterdam-based European Fundraising Institute, and the Association of Fundraising Professionals in the United States. He received his diploma with distinction in 2015.
In service to the fundraising profession, Rob has served on the board of the Mid-Iowa Planned Giving Council and held several positions including President. Rob has twice served on the committee for the Partnership for Philanthropic Planning's National Conference on Planned Giving (2008, 2013).
Rob also served on the board of the Central Iowa Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. In addition to various board positions, Rob served on the annual Philanthropy Day Committee for several years and led the charge to establish the Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy Award in Central Iowa.
From 2000 - 2014, Rob served on the LEAVE A LEGACY® Iowa board that promotes charitable estate planning across all communities in Iowa and our border communities. He served as board chair in 2006, 2007, 2011, 2012 and 2013. Rob helped launch the Plan Your Giving Iowa initiative in 2012. Rob also served on the Iowa Nonprofit Collaborative of the Iowa Nonprofit Resource Center of the University of Iowa.
Rob is a frequent speaker on fundraising and nonprofit management both locally and nationally.
Rob holds a degree in Public Relations and Communications from the University of Northern Iowa. He received his Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) accreditation in 2002.
Outside of his professional roles and association involvement, Rob enjoys golfing, kickboxing, and painting and is involved with his church and various organizations. Rob is married, has two daughters and resides in Urbandale, Iowa.