Meet the Team

Jared Blakeley

Major Gifts Director

Jared Blakeley (he/him) has a diverse background in fundraising and nonprofit philanthropy. As major gifts director, he manages relationships with major donors and planned giving donors to secure major funding for KPBS' core projects and operations. Prior to joining KPBS, he worked at Rady Children’s Hospital Foundation for 11 years, most recently as director of philanthropy, and as the annual giving officer preceding that. Jared received his bachelor’s in English from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a certificate in Fundraising Management from Indiana University, and a certificate in Nonprofit Management from the University of San Diego. Jared is happy to call San Diego home for the past 12 years, and excited to help advance the mission of KPBS. When not consuming copious amounts of news and politics, Jared can be found spending time with his wife and three children, cooking, walking the dog or just tinkering in his garage.

RECENT STORIES ON KPBS

To save its rare birds, New Zealand is relying on a nation of backyard trappers

Lauren Sommer

Ryan Kellman

New Zealand's unique birds are at risk of extinction, like the kiwi. So the country is trying to eradicate the invasive species that prey on them. Everyday people are lining up to help.
Arthur Sze named 25th U.S. poet laureate

Andrew Limbong

Sze is a poet with a lot of acclaim — he's won the National Book Award, was a Guggenheim fellow and was a finalist for the Pulitzer. He aims to promote interest in translated poetry in his new role.
National

A Utah church embarks on a healing journey in the aftermath of the Kirk assassination

Marisa Peñaloza

A church in Orem, Utah, the city where Charlie Kirk was killed, brings healing during its Sunday service. "We're going to be navigating this as a community and as a church family for months to come."
Politics

A record number of congressional lawmakers aren't running for reelection in 2026. Here's the list

Stephen Fowler

NPR is tracking the record number of lawmakers in Congress who have already announced they don't plan to run for reelection ahead of the 2026 midterms.
International

Melting glaciers mean an uncertain future for Europe's rivers

Rob Schmitz

Europe is warming faster than any continent. That's speeding up glacial melt, which is already threatening Europe's largest rivers.
Politics

Democrats face an 'extinction moment' as strategists push them onto new platforms

Sacha Pfeiffer

Prominent Democratic lawmakers and influencers are encouraging their fellow Democrats to embrace social media and online video to reach voters or risk being left behind.