Executive Director
LVMPD Foundation
Type of Business: 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization
Based in: Las Vegas
Hails from: Currie, Minnesota
Years Org. has been in Nevada: 26
Years with Organization in Nevada: 1.5
Employees in NV (approx.): 08
How did you get into your profession?
After nearly three decades in sales and marketing roles serving K-12 education, I was recruited to lead a nonprofit organization in the Twin Cities (Minnesota) that combined my passion for relevant education and job training with opening doors to new life trajectory opportunities to students in underserved neighborhoods. I became hooked with the impacts that nonprofits can make!
What has been instrumental to your success?
Realizing that the neighborhood or circumstances that you grew up in do not define your life potential. I firmly believe that talent is equally distributed, but opportunity is not. Nonprofits are uniquely positioned to open doors to new opportunities for marginalized populations to walk through the doors and put in the hard work to change their life trajectory.
What is an issue currently facing your industry that an outside observer might not be aware of?
Some outsiders believe that police foundations are providing a “slush fund” for secretive projects. At LVMPD Foundation, that could not be further from the truth. We are aligned with the priorities of our Sheriff Kevin McMahill, and we focus our philanthropic “cases for support” on initiatives that are not covered in the county budget for LVMPD.
What was the most difficult experience you encountered as a leader?
Some of the most challenging experiences as a leader are when I have access to information that I cannot yet share with the employees – especially if it is going to impact them. I have to balance my commitment to try to be “fully transparent” against my obligation to ensure confidential information is protected. I always put the organization’s needs above anything else. I had a former boss who told me once, “always know that, as your boss, I have access to information that you don’t, and I have to take that into consideration for decisions we make.”
What would be the title of your autobiography?
“A Good Karen … Doing the Right Thing”
What career advice would you give to someone just starting in your industry?
Nonprofit organizations need to have a relentless focus on impact, and provide a compelling “return on investment” for the philanthropic dollars received. I think too often, nonprofit employees forget about, or minimize, the importance of measurement and evaluation and truly showing sustainable improvements.
