Tom Bander is the Vice President of Development at the Danforth Center, where he leads the team effort to secure the financial resources needed for the Danforth Center to carry out its mission of a more food-secure and environmentally sustainable world, while catalyzing economic growth in St. Louis around plant science. Tom and the development team build relationships with individuals, corporations, and foundations to fulfill the donor’s philanthropic objectives through partnership with the Center. Prior to joining the Danforth Center in 2009, Tom worked in development at William Woods University, the University of Missouri-Columbia, and the Iowa State University Foundation. Tom received both his MBA and his certificate in nonprofit management from the University of Missouri-Columbia, and his Bachelor of Science in Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering from Iowa State University.