ST. LOUIS, MO – September 30, 2025 – Jazz St. Louis is proud to announce the appointment of Cynthia D. Danley as its new Director of Development, bringing more than 30 years of nonprofit leadership, strategic vision, and community impact to the organization as it celebrates its 30th Anniversary Season.
Danley, a resident of Shiloh, Illinois, is an international best-selling author and visionary nonprofit executive widely recognized for her transformational leadership. Throughout her career, she has advanced mission-driven organizations through innovative fundraising strategies, operational excellence, and a deep commitment to equity and empowerment.
Most recently, Danley served as Chief Executive Officer of Safe Connections, where she modernized operations, expanded programming, and implemented high-impact development strategies that significantly increased revenue, outreach, and staff retention. Her leadership elevated the organization’s visibility and impact across the St. Louis region.
“Cynthia’s breadth of experience and proven track record in organizational growth, strategic planning, and community engagement make her an extraordinary addition to the Jazz St. Louis leadership team,” said Victor Goines, President & CEO of Jazz St. Louis. “Her expertise will help us deepen our impact, expand access, and ensure that jazz continues to thrive as both a world-class art form and a vital part of our community.”
Her career includes senior roles with Nurses for Newborns, Children’s Miracle Network of Greater St. Louis, The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management, and United Way of Greater St. Louis, as well as corporate experience at Emerson, where she oversaw community investment strategies for the Flow Controls Division.
Danley holds an MBA and an MA in Nonprofit Management and Leadership from Webster University, and a BA in Human Resources Management from Webster University. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, has been appointed to a second term on the Missouri State Commission on Combatting Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence, and is an active leader in Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
With her unique combination of executive acumen and storytelling, Danley is poised to help guide Jazz St. Louis into its next chapter, fostering excellence in performance, education, and community engagement while honoring St. Louis’s rich jazz legacy.
For more information, visit www.jazzstl.org.
Photos of Cynthia D. Danley can be found here.
Media Contact: Serena Mounts | Leigh Walters Communications | (314) 374-2334 | serenam@lwcstrategies.com
About Jazz St. Louis
Jazz St. Louis is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to lead our community in advancing the uniquely American art of jazz through performance, education, and community engagement.
Each year, Jazz St. Louis presents over 270 performances in its internationally acclaimed concert series. The nonprofit organization takes a three-pronged approach to its work: presenting jazz, encouraging and educating future audiences, and nurturing budding musicians.
Jazz St. Louis Education programs cultivate leadership and cultural appreciation in the next generation of musicians and listeners through training, educational resources, and transformative engagement with musicians from St. Louis, the U.S. and around the world. Jazz St. Louis has an extensive portfolio of education programs aimed at elementary through college students in the greater St. Louis area and beyond. The organization provides field trip experiences, hands-on training programs, in-school clinics and masterclasses, and curricular resources for teachers, all at no cost to participants.
