Zafasi Named Development Director at Little Rock Public Radio

Grace Zafasi, a familiar face at Little Rock Public Radio, has taken on a new role as director of development for the home of KUAR FM 89.1 and KLRE Classical 90.5.
“I have always loved the incredible sense of community here at Little Rock Public Radio,” Zafasi said. “Being able to listen to and interact with so many of our listeners is such a rewarding experience. Hearing their stories about how impactful the station has been in their lives truly inspires me. I’m also deeply moved by how committed our community is to supporting public radio through fundraising. It’s a privilege to step into this new role as development director and help strengthen the connections between our listeners and the station they value so much.”
In her new role, Zafasi will be responsible for fundraising, overseeing underwriting for KUAR and KLRE, and membership services, including managing the new membership coordinator.
“Grace has done a fantastic job as our membership director, and we are excited to see what she can accomplish as our new development director,” said Jonathan Seaborn, executive manager of Little Rock Public Radio. “Fundraising is one of the most critical aspects of public radio. As a publicly funded institution, we rely on member donations for more than 50% of our general operating budget. This position is an important part of our success.”
As membership director, Zafasi has had a large role in showcasing the value of public radio to Little Rock Public Radio’s estimated 80,000 listeners per week. She oversaw membership services, organized the annual fund drives and other events, and served as the liaison to Friends of KLRE/KUAR.
Prior to joining Little Rock Public Radio in 2022, she worked in mental health advocacy and policy for Mental Health America of Ohio in Columbus, where she coordinated the Franklin County Suicide Prevention Coalition with veterans, medical providers, law enforcement, and school administration.
Zafasi earned a bachelor’s degree in social work and a master’s degree in social work from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. She worked at the U of A as a coordinator for residence education in housing, where she provided supervision, crisis management, operational management, event management, and community engagement for students.
Housed within the College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education, Little Rock Public Radio, home of KUAR FM 89.1 and KLRE Classical 90.5, is a public service unit of UA Little Rock. University students gain professional experience by working as interns and part-time staff members who take part in all aspects of KLRE and KUAR operations with a specific focus on news reporting and broadcast production.
Little Rock Public Radio is now accepting applications for Zafasi’s former position, membership director. Applications are due by Feb. 16.