Terri Speirs
Development Director
terri.speirs(at)practicalfarmers(dot)org
Terri Mork Speirs joined the Practical Farmers of Iowa staff in February 2025 as the director of development. Terri is excited to steward and grow Practical Farmers’ donor base, with a focus on increasing unrestricted gifts. She enjoys fundraising because it connects her with interesting, generous folks who care about the Earth and one another.
Terri has worked as a development and communications professional her entire career, supporting a variety of sectors. Examples include food security, mental health, foster care, child safety, refugee resettlement and domestic violence services. While working 17 years in a global aid agency, she engaged U.S. faith groups to build markets for small-scale farmers around the world who grow coffee, cocoa, tea and olives.
Terri grew up in southeastern Minnesota. She has a Bachelor of Arts in political science and criminal justice and a Master of Arts in secondary education from the University of South Dakota. She also has a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from Antioch University in Los Angeles. Terri and her husband, Bob, have lived in New York City (Bob’s home); Baltimore; and St. Paul, Minnesota. They now reside together in Des Moines, where their two adult children also live.
Terri enjoys crocheting, gardening, traveling, walking and absorbing all kinds of media such as books, movies, television, podcasts, music and live shows. She especially loves spending time with her family, friends and pets.