Blakely Blackford

Blakely brings a background in journalism and communications, having worked in business news in New York before returning South for graduate studies in business administration and environmental management at UNC–Chapel Hill and Duke University. A Davidson College alumna with a degree in English, she has consistently used her communication and people skills to build strong relationships and initiatives throughout her career.

As a director of philanthropy with the Spartanburg Regional Foundation, Blakely enjoys working with individual donors and community members in support of advancing health care across Spartanburg, Cherokee and Union counties. Part of the fourth generation in her family to call Spartanburg home, she values connecting the dots across generations, organizations and local initiatives—work that is especially rewarding in a place where no one knows a stranger. 

Outside of work, Blakely enjoys writing, photography, actively supporting the arts, traveling, staying informed on what’s happening in the world, spending time with friends and family across generations, and most of all, time with her dog, Ava Gardner.