Kathy Whelpley

Kathy Whelpley joined the National Center in May 2012 as Vice President. Kathy has spent the past 25 years working to build the assets and impact of philanthropic and nonprofit organizations. Most recently, she was with The Community Foundation for the National Capital Region, where over 12 years she served in a variety of roles.  As Chief Operating Officer, Kathy led the organization’s strategic planning, measurement and governance functions, while also managing all donor service, community investment and marketing activities. Beginning in 2001, Kathy led the Foundation’s response to 9-11, developing and managing the $25 million Survivors’ Fund, the largest fund in the country dedicated to the survivors of the attack on the Pentagon. Earlier in her career, Kathy was the founding Associate Director of the Freddie Mac Foundation, helping to grow this corporate foundation over 10 years into one of the largest corporate giver in the Washington region, with an annual giving budget of $20 million and national initiatives in education, child abuse prevention and fostercare/adoption. Previously, Kathy was a consultant at Campbell Communications, a public relations and health communications firm in Bethesda, Maryland and also held several reporting positions at newspapers in Virginia and New Jersey.