Karen Gardner

As a seasoned nonprofit strategy and leadership consultant, Karen has successfully collaborated with a diverse range of local and national nonprofits to design and implement transformative fundraising strategies, lead high-impact leadership development and strategic planning retreats, and deliver executive coaching that empowers nonprofit leaders to drive organizational success.

Prior to Generative, Karen was the Chief Development Officer for Reading Partners, where she led the organization to raise over $30M annually. She also previously served as the Senior Executive Director for Reading Partners in DC, where she worked alongside the board and staff to raise $3M annually, recruit thousands of volunteers, and gain community champions to double the number of students served within five years. She consistently exceeds fundraising and programmatic goals, demonstrating exceptional leadership and impact.

Karen earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Ball State University and a master’s in business administration from The George Washington University, with a concentration in organizational development and nonprofit management. She is a sought-after facilitator for workshops and retreats, supporting teams in fundraising, strategic planning, team optimization, and board engagement. Karen has also successfully partnered with nonprofits to plan, develop, and launch innovative programs.