Aldon Knight has spent more than 30 years in leadership, external relations, fundraising, and communications. His experience includes senior-level development positions with Clemson University, the University of Tennessee and the University of Georgia, as well as Congressional staff work. He has worked in the conservation arena for nearly a decade with Upstate Forever.

Aldon grew up in the Abbeville County, South Carolina town of Due West. His experience includes leadership and management, revenue generation, branding, and communications. In his role at Upstate Forever, Aldon has overseen the implementation of a best-practices approach to fundraising, which has led to significant increases in funding for the organization. Since coming to Upstate Forever, he has served as a member of the senior leadership team, moving into the Executive Director role in early 2024. Aldon’s community and professional engagement has included participation in leadership programs, local boards, and municipal government. He currently serves on a variety of community teams and consults with partner organizations to aid their growth in fundraising and strategic management.

Aldon holds a Bachelor’s degree from Erskine and a Master of Public Administration from Clemson. He and his wife, Anna, reside in southern Spartanburg County and have five grown children. In his spare time, Aldon enjoys a variety of activities including traveling, reading, cooking and entertaining friends and family, writing music and poetry, and working on his property.