Our Team

Kelly Dunkin joined Colorado Gives Foundation as President and CEO in February 2019. Previously she worked for a variety of nonprofit, business and social impact organizations. These include 11 years at The Colorado Health Foundation in Denver, where she grew into the role of Vice President of Philanthropy, and 10.10.10, where she served as National Director. 10.10.10 is a project of Colorado Nonprofit Development Center and inspires entrepreneurs to solve 10 “wicked” social problems.

Kelly also served as a consultant for businesses, nonprofits and social impact startups as well as projects in Lima, Peru, where she developed her Spanish-language skills.

Kelly’s education includes a Bachelor of Arts in English from Miami University, an Elementary Education Licensure from the University of Northern Colorado, and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Colorado at Denver.

Community Participation:

• Anchor Advisory Council Member, Jan 2023 – Present
• Jeffco Connections Board of Directors, 2021 – Present
• Jeffco EDC Board of Directors, 2020-present
• Denver Metro Leadership Foundation Board of Directors, 2020 – present
• SCL Health Regional Board of Directors, 2020-present
• Yes on Initiative 301 (Caring for Denver), Volunteer, Oct. – Nov., 2018
• Colorado Association for School-Based Health Care’s Inspiration Award, Community Champion, 2015

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Kenneth Kirwin joined the Foundation in December 2008 after serving as Controller/CFO for the Tennyson Center for Children. He has served in a financial capacity in the nonprofit sector since 1991 at organizations such as Denver Rescue Mission and New Ventures of Regis University.

Ken was raised in Colorado and received a Bachelor of Science in Professional Accounting and Business Administration/ Finance from Regis University. He received an M.B.A. in Finance at Loyola University in Chicago. He is a certified public accountant.

Community Participation:

• Jefferson County Economic Development Corporation, past board member
• Knights of Columbus, member
• Leadership Jefferson County, class of 2010

Ken previously served as board member and treasurer for Smart Energy Living Alliance.

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Jaime joined Colorado Gives Foundation as a Digital Communications Specialist in June 2019 and was promoted to Program Officer with the Community Impact Team in January 2022. Previously, he worked at Denver’s American Indian College Fund. Over a span of nine years there, he served as a Media and Research Specialist and then transitioned to a Website Specialist. Jaime has also supported a local election campaign and operates a social media consulting firm that offers photography and video services. He got his start in the photography department at the Rocky Mountain News.

Jaime received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communications at Texas Tech University. He is very active in his community.

Community Participation:

• Denver Park Trust, founding board member
• Parish Council, Presentation of Our Lady Church
• Villa Park Neighborhood Association, president
• American G.I. Forum, member
• Denver Press Club, member

Previously, Jaime participated in the ACESSO Spanish language voter access board, Denver Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, volunteered with the Denver Indian Center, served on the Federal Boulevard Partnerships Board, and was a mentor for Denver Kids, Inc.

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Success is the name of the game for Jordan who joined the Foundation in December 2022 as the Nonprofit Success Manager, ColoradoGives.org. She brings over a decade of marketing, sales and partnership experience helping nonprofits make the most of online giving platforms. Before joining the Foundation team, Jordan was the manager of Enterprise Strategic Accounts for NeonOne and the Philanthropic Partnerships Manager for MightyCause which is the platform that drives ColoradoGives.org. Jordan has a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies & English from Washington College.

Community Participation:

• Actively supports her local community foundation, Chaffee County Community Foundation

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Heather joined the Foundation in November 2024 and is an administrative professional with fifteen years of experience supporting executive teams and managing office operations.

Since beginning her career as a receptionist, she has developed expertise in operational scheduling, streamlining processes and providing support to C-suite executives. Most recently, Heather worked as an Executive Assistant at Partners Group, supporting the fundraising teams across several regions. She managed complex schedules, organized events, and helped ensure smooth operations for senior leadership.

Outside of work, she enjoys pursuing creative hobbies such as art and music, as well as outdoor activities like hiking and paddleboarding. She is also an avid animal lover, and enjoys spending time with her rescue dog, Ziti.

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Mai joined the Foundation in July 2011 as a senior accountant after a 10-year career working as a senior-level accountant in Bangkok, Thailand. In Thailand, Mai was a Senior Accountant at Diageo Moet Hennessy, a distributor of premium wine and spirits, and an Accounting Supervisor for ZTE Co, LTD, a telecommunications equipment company.

Mai holds a Master of Science in Accounting from the University of Colorado, a master’s degree in accounting from Chulalongkorn University, Thailand’s most prestigious university, and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Bangkok University.

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Katie joined Colorado Gives Foundation as an administrative assistant in July 2024. With a diverse background spanning event management, administrative roles, and community engagement, Katie plays a vital role in supporting our fundraising & engagement and community impact teams. Prior to joining us, Katie honed her skills at Omnia Events as an executive assistant and operations lead, where she managed events and fostered strong vendor relationships. Her experience extends to supporting speech-language pathology efforts at Denver Public Schools and providing administrative support at Children Matter. 

Katie holds a bachelor’s degree in Speech Language and Hearing Sciences from the University of Colorado at Boulder, bringing a unique blend of organizational skills and a passion for community service to our team. 

In her free time Katie likes to run, play disc golf, and write.

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Gerry joined the Foundation in February 2021, bringing six years of database management and prospect research analyst experience to the organization. Prior to the Foundation, Gerry worked at History Colorado as the Philanthropy and Membership Database Manager and as Prospect Research Analyst and Database Associate at Share Our Strength in Washington, DC.

He has a Bachelors of Science in criminal justice from University of Virginia’s College at Wise. He enjoys cooking, Taylor Swift, baking, skiing, and traveling with his cat.

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Owen joined the Foundation as senior accountant in July 2023. He brings a wealth of accounting, finance, auditing, and policy knowledge and experience to our organization having previously worked with private corporations and community foundations.

Owen received his Bachelor of Arts from Brown University. He also earned a Master of Environmental Management from Yale University and a Certificate of Advanced Accounting Proficiency (CAAP) from Santa Clara University.

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Kelly joined Colorado Gives Foundation in May 2014 as the Administrative Assistant for the Community Impact and Online Giving departments. She now serves as the Foundation’s Grants Manager. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Italian from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Community Participation:

• Colorado Funders for Inclusiveness and Equity (2021 – Present)
• PEAK Grantmaking, Rocky Mountain Chapter (2018 – Present)

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Lindsey Fontneau joined the Foundation in February 2024 and is a seasoned digital marketing professional. With a background in leading the communications department at Southeast Christian Church, Lindsey brings extensive experience in executing digital marketing campaigns, optimizing SEO and managing websites that drive traffic. Lindsey is a skilled marketer who can build audience engagement through digital platforms. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Interpersonal & Organizational Communication from Azusa Pacific University. Beyond her professional endeavors, Lindsey enjoys thrifting, hiking with her dog Maggie, and attending concerts with her husband.

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Jessica Hanner is a marketing & brand communications professional with 20+ years of experience in planning, strategy & executing cross-functional initiatives at all levels. Most recently, she came from Noodles & Company where she was the Director of Local Marketing & Brand Creative and a committed member of their Inclusion & Diversity Council. Prior to that, Jessica’s career consisted of working in Account Management at advertising & ecommerce agencies in Detroit, NYC and Denver. Jessica obtained her BA in Marketing with a minor in Advertising from Central Michigan University.

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Nazia joined the Foundation in August 2021 after serving as a policy analyst in early childhood education and two-generation policies for the Bell Policy Center. She was promoted to director of community impact in December 2022. She brings to the Foundation a wide range of experience in local, state, and federal government as well as work in private and nonprofit sectors.

She began her career in early care and learning by supporting young children develop a social and academic foundation for success in K-12 education. Following her passion to serve both children and their families in marginalized communities she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Human Development and a master’s degree in Criminal Justice. Applying her education to various capacities, she has actively worked in the community in early childhood education, workforce development programs, nonprofit grant management, policy and advocacy, and criminal defense investigation.

This diversity in her professional career compliments her expertise in policy development and analyses. Building from this experience, she regularly identifies needs in community programs, state budgets, and policies to elevate on the ground challenges to inform community leaders and policymakers. When she is not working, she enjoys spending quality time with her family, traveling, and exploring local restaurants and shops to support small business establishments.

Community Participation:

• Appointed Member, Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) Rules Advisory Council (RAC)
• Mayoral appointed Denver Women’s Commissioner, Denver Women’s Commission
• Special Education Advisory Subgroup Committee, Member
• New Leaders Council, Alumni
• Springboard Child Care, former Founding Board Member

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Mikayla joined the Foundation in September 2024 as our Content Marketing Specialist, with an extensive background in content management, digital marketing and professional photography. Her most recent role was at the Colorado State University Alumni Association as the Social & Digital Marketing Specialist. She also brings expertise from her roles as Social Media Coordinator for Ziggi’s Coffee, and as the owner and main photographer of her photography business, Boho-West Photos. Mikayla has a bachelor’s degree in communication studies with a minor in technical and science communication from Colorado State University. When she’s not at work or taking photos, you can find her enjoying the Rocky Mountains with her fiancé and their miniature-dachshund, at the yoga studio or at the lake.

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Cindy joined the Foundation in February 2020 as Marketing and Communications Manager and was promoted to Director of Communications and Community Outreach in January 2022. She’s a creative communicator with three decades of marketing, public relations, media relations (PIO), emergency services and public participation experience. Previously, she worked for Jefferson County Public Library, Regis University, West Metro Fire Rescue and Denver Health in communication and marketing leadership. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Colorado Boulder, and a Master of Arts in Communication from the University of Colorado Denver. She enjoys camping, hiking, and wildlife photography with her family. She’s a happy owner of a lovable Wheaten.

Community Participation:

• Jefferson County Wildfire Commission – member
• Friends of Dinosaur Ridge – board member
• American Marketing Association – member
• Leadership Jefferson County – Class of 2010
• President’s Leadership Class, University of Colorado – Alumnus

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Jessica joined the Foundation in November 2024 and has nearly a decade of experience in business operations and executive support. She specializes in managing projects, streamlining workflows and building strong client relationships.

Her previous roles have given her comprehensive experience in all moving parts of business operations, including client and vendor relations, financial management and marketing initiatives. She’s passionate about building efficient systems that keep daily operations running smoothly, while fostering a positive and supportive culture for her team. At the heart of her work is a commitment to ensuring both team members and clients feel valued, empowered and set up for success.

Jessica studied Business Management and Communications at Colorado State University – Global. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, reading in the park with her two Australian shepherds, and spending time in Downtown Boulder with friends and family.

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Christine joined the Foundation in May 2015 after serving as the Director of Finance and Accounting of Columbine Country Club for ten years. Before that time she served as Controller of Arapahoe House. A Colorado native, she has served the nonprofit sector since 1990.

Christine received a B.S. from the University of Colorado Denver. She is a Certified Public Accountant and also holds a Chartered Global Management Accountant designation.

Community Participation:

• American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, member
• Colorado Society of Certified Public Accountants, member
• Leadership Jefferson County, class of 2016- 2017

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In December 2023, the Foundation welcomed savinay nathan to the team as our Community Impact Vice President With a strong background in business, engineering, and education, savinay brings a unique blend of skills and perspectives to our organization. Prior to joining us, he held leadership roles at Minds Matter Colorado, Denver Public Schools, and The Boeing Company. His experience in nonprofit and executive leadership and his commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion will be invaluable as we work toward our goal of creating positive impact in Jefferson County.  He holds a Bachelor of Science in Systems Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania, a Masters of Educational Leadership from The Broad Center and an MBA from the Thunderbird School of Global Management.

Community:

• Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation, Director, DEI Chair   | 2017-2023
• Denver Library Commission, Commissioner | 2021
• Rocky Mountain Vipassana Association, Trustee and Fundraising Chair | 2021-2022
• Luminary Learning Network, Director, Secretary | 2016-2021
• Leadership Denver | 2016
• Civic DNA Fellows | 2018
• Leadership Exchange | 2017 – 2019

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Prior to joining the Foundation in 2006, Karen worked for six years as an office manager at a shelving company. She has also served as an accounting analyst, inventory coordinator, computer operator and underwriting assistant in previous positions.

Karen graduated from Alameda High School and attended an in-depth business course at WarrenTech career and technical high school.

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Emma joined the Foundation in September 2024 as a Program Officer with a range of experience in nonprofit management, community engagement and partnership development. She brings expertise from her previous roles as Executive Director of Union Hall, Stakeholder Engagement Manager for the Biennial of Americas and Development Associate for the World Federalist Movement. With skills varying from strategic planning to public speaking, event coordination and budget development, Emma brings an eye for detail and strong program management knowledge to her role. She earned her bachelor’s degree in international relations & Spanish, with a minor in philosophy at State University of New York, Geneseo.

Community Participation:

• Board Member, La Serra Collective
• Board Member, Sacred Voices
• Impact Denver Leadership Program

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Nina joined Colorado Gives Foundation as an executive assistant and board and committee manager in December 2021. Nina brings experience in project management, logistic coordination and executive support to the Foundation. She holds a Master of Business Administration in Project Management from Colorado State University and a Bachelor of Business Administration from the National University of Costa Rica. When she is not working, she enjoys spending time with her husband and four children, camping, mountain biking, yoga and all things arts and crafts.

Community Participation:

• Business Women Leadership Group, Member
• Humane Society of Boulder, Volunteer

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April joined Colorado Gives Foundation as an Accountant in June of 2022. Previously she worked at an association for the hospitality industry following 22 years in the banking industry. She received her Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Colorado State University Global in 2017.

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Jennifer joined the Foundation as the Vice President of Business Systems and Intelligence in December 2021 and is currently Chief Integration Officer. With over 25 years of experience in complex, high-volume, and strictly regulated environments, including significant roles in the Fintech sector, she excels in delivering Technology Leadership, Project/Program Management, Operational Excellence and Risk Management. Jennifer enjoys serving as a driven, results-focused team performer, mentor, and leader who carves order out of chaos and exceeds expectations in demanding environments.

Prior to joining Colorado Gives Foundation, Jennifer led a variety of technology teams for Open Technology Solutions, Charles Schwab, and Bellco Credit Union.

Community Participation:

• Provides Pro-Bono Project Management and Volunteer Coordination services for Colorado Non-Profits

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Nick joined Colorado Gives Foundation in July of 2024 as the Director of Information Technology.  He brings over 20 years of IT experience to the organization with a background in IT management and IT infrastructure with a strong focus on network architecture, engineering, and security. Nick loves developing “simple, yet elegant” solutions to complex IT and business problems. Formerly, he worked at E-470 Public Highway Authority as manager of network & security and built a team consisting of three additional engineers. Prior to that, Nick led the Managed Services Engineering team at Istonish, a female/minority-owned business that provides IT solutions to local organizations. He’s also held network engineering/administration roles at 24/7 Networks, the City of Englewood, and Shane Co. He has a bachelor of science degree in business administration with a concentration in information systems from the University of Colorado Denver.

Nick grew up in Jefferson County and during his free time enjoys exploring Colorado off-road and hiking trails, the local electronic music scene, and international travel.

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Alexis joined the Foundation in October 2023 as the donor relations specialist. She brings extensive nonprofit fundraising and donor relations experience having previously worked as the development coordinator with Hope House Colorado. She has a bachelor of science degree in human services with a concentration in nonprofit studies, and a minor in water studies.

Community Participation:

• Protect Our Rivers, volunteer/grant writing/events
• Happy Crew, board member

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Kelly Schuknecht joined the Foundation as the Director of Process Excellence and PMO in June 2023. She has over 23 years of experience in software development, project management, organizational development, and team development in the manufacturing and banking industries. Kelly is passionate about innovation, continuous improvement, automation, and process improvement, all while motivating others around her to grow professionally and achieve success.

Community Participation:

Kelly served many years as an engaged volunteer and fundraiser coordinator for a therapeutic horse riding charity in Arizona before moving to Colorado. She is actively involved in her children’s school, including a 2-year term as the PTA Treasurer, and remains committed to volunteering for local nonprofit organizations whenever opportunities arise.

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Jeremy joined Colorado Gives Foundation in March 2024 as the Major Gifts Officer. With over two decades of service in the nonprofit field, Jeremy brings experience in philanthropy, fundraising, marketing communications, events, volunteer development and community engagement. He is passionate about integrating mission-driven initiatives and overseeing projects to surpass objectives. Throughout his career, he has spearheaded strategic planning with charitable organizations, securing grants and managing donor relationships. As an expert on individual giving, his focus is optimizing and growing the Foundation’s Individual Giving Program to ensure all Jeffco is thriving. Throughout his career, Jeremy infuses the charity’s mission into every aspect of his work. He is thrilled to engage with individual donors and Donor Advised Fund holders to find out how they want to invest and impact the community where they live.

He received a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan School of Kinesiology and a Masters of Science in Education from the University of Miami. Jeremy enjoys spending time with his family through all the great offerings in Colorado offers such as playing and watching sports, golfing, visiting concert venues, snowboarding, and traveling around the state. To remain active, he rides his Peloton bike and, at least twice a day, walks his Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier around the neighborhood.

Community Participation:

• Board President, Denver North Business Association
• Youth Flag Football Coach in NFL Flag Football league
• Event Chairperson, PTSA at Dora Moore School
• Aurora Chamber member and Tips & Leads Co-Chairperson
• Advisory Board Member – Metro State University for Healthcare management
• Recipient of MSU Healthcare Management Program Support & Leadership Honoree
• Participant of fundraising programs for: Take Steps, Team Challenge and spin4 crohn’s & colitis cures

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Erica joined Colorado Gives Foundation in January 2021. Erica brings more than 15 years of digital product management experience to the Foundation. Prior to joining Colorado Gives Foundation, Erica held a leadership role at Cro Metrics, an experimentation and optimization agency as well as leading the Digital Experience team at Vail Resorts, Inc., a premier mountain resort company. She is passionate about website optimization and innovation to deliver a seamless online experience. Her expertise includes developing platform optimization strategies, executing complex digital initiatives, and leading cross functional teams to deliver results. She holds a Master of Arts in Business Management and Economics from Assumption College.

Community Participation:

• Humane Society of Boulder Valley
• Volunteers of America Mission
• Food Bank of the Rockies

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Bryce joined Colorado Gives Foundation in September 2007. He is currently the Operations Manager for ColoradoGives.org.

Prior to joining Colorado Gives Foundation, Bryce worked at Wyoming Community Foundation and was a Peace Corps volunteer in Niger, West Africa. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Wyoming.

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Tim joined the Foundation in December 2022 as the Endowment Manager, bringing two decades of philanthropic and nonprofit capacity development experience to the organization. Tim has served as the interim Vice President of Resource Development and Director of Advancement for Lutheran Family Service Rocky Mountains. He also served as the Vice President of the Augustana Foundation and Director of Donor and Alumni Relations at the Iliff School of Theology. Most recently, he worked with the Global Immersion project leading their fundraising efforts.

Tim has a master’s degree from Iliff School of Theology with a concentration in nonprofit leadership and social change, and a bachelor’s degree in religious studies from the College of William and Mary in Virginia. He grew up in Boulder and now lives in Denver with his wife and two kids.

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