Jeff Freeland Nelson / executive director
Jeff Freeland Nelson is a leader in media innovation, entrepreneurship, and public policy. As executive director of Glen Nelson Center at American Public Media Group (APMG), Jeff is responsible for the Horizon Fund, APMG’s corporate venture capital fund, the Next Challenge for Media & Journalism, a national media innovation competition, and the Kling Innovation Grants, APMG’s internal innovation program.
As a senior producer and head of public affairs at APMG, Jeff led national initiatives, including the Future of News, which brought together the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and national leaders in media and journalism, and other major convenings, including the Comer Climate Change Summit. Jeff also co-led the launch of 170 Million Americans for Public Broadcasting (now Protect My Public Media), successfully defending federal funding for public broadcasting after the U.S. House of Representatives voted to defund NPR. The effort has twice garnered the David J. Brugger Leadership Award from America’s Public Television Stations.
As an entrepreneur, Jeff founded two nonprofit organizations and a for-profit toy company and supported numerous other startups as an investor, advisor, coach, and board member. His toy company, YOXO, was featured on the TODAY Show and Fox & Friends with products carried by most major retailers in North America. Jeff is the named inventor on four U.S. patents. He now devotes time to coaching startup CEOs and senior nonprofit leaders.
Jeff is the recipient of the Catalytic Leader Award from the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, a former fellow of the Humphrey School of Public Affairs and the German Marshall Fund and a Leadership Fellow with the Bush Foundation. He holds a bachelor's degree from Hamline University and a Master in Public Administration (MPA) from the Harvard Kennedy School.