New Leadership: 5 Questions with Amy Cole Buehler

Amy Cole Buehler joined Wings of Hope as our new director of development on Aug. 5, 2019, after 27 years working in nonprofit development helping raise millions of dollars for many St. Louis-area and statewide organizations. Amy is director of the Nonprofit Management Master’s Program at Washington University in St. Louis, where she is also a faculty member. In addition to founding her own consulting firm serving nonprofit organizations, Amy was executive director for both the Animal Protective Association of Missouri, Therapeutic Horsemanship and, most recently, the Parkway Alumni Association.

1. What attracted you to Wings of Hope?

The short answer is the mission. Not just the words, but how the mission in action is quite literally and purposefully the helping hand for so many. Wings of Hope is making a critical difference in the lives of many people all over the globe. The opportunity to play a part here, to reach out to people on behalf of the mission and help continue the legacy here – that is what moved me so much.

2. In your first few months in your new role, what has surprised you most?

The level of volunteer support. Not just the impressive number of people volunteering, but the essential work that they do for the organization. In my almost 30 years of working in and around nonprofit organizations, I have never witnessed anything like it. I had heard that this was part of the Wings of Hope culture, but until you get here and see it for yourself, you really don’t have a sense of the scope of the work that it takes to successfully run this organization – and the volunteer support is absolutely critical to that success. It is an honor to work alongside so many who give so much.

3. What excites you most about your new job?

There are a number of things – the opportunity to work with an outstanding and talented group of people, the growth potential for the organization, the opportunity to use the skills that I have
for the greater good.

4. What excites you most about the future of Wings of Hope?

I believe there are wonderful things on the horizon for Wings of Hope. Expanding our reach, partnering with likeminded people, funders and organizations, and thinking strategically about how to achieve our common goals – all of these things make being here exciting and very fulfilling.

5. When you’re not working, where are we most likely to find you?

Near a football field! I am a huge football fan. My dad had Cardinals season tickets when I was a kid and I tagged along to lots of games; that’s where my love of football was born. Both of my boys have played, my husband Bryan was a head coach for many years in the Chesterfield and Longhorn football programs and today, we run the Parkway West High School football booster club together. Our son Sam is in his senior season, so our close involvement will end this year, but my love for the game will live on through my beloved Missouri Tigers and a host of other college football teams I like to follow. I also enjoy baseball, golf, cooking, gardening and reading.

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