Kelly Medinger

Executive Director, Marion I. & Henry J. Knott Foundation

Kelly Medinger joined the Knott Foundation in 2011 and became Executive Director in 2012. In this capacity, she manages the general operations of the Foundation, oversees all grantmaking programs, facilitates good governance with the board, and leads external communications.

Kelly has been a professional in the philanthropic sector for more than 20 years. Her experience combines both grantmaking and grantseeking, having served as the Director of Corporate, Foundation and Government Relations at Stevenson University, a Program Officer at The Goizueta Foundation in Atlanta, and an Associate Campaign Manager at Coxe Curry & Associates, a fundraising consulting firm.

Kelly holds a Masters of Nonprofit Administration from the Mendoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and French, also from Notre Dame. She and her husband, Jason, live in Towson with their son Michael.

Contributions

Non-family Staff Peer Network: CEO Performance Reviews

Posted on January 18, 2019 by Denise Porche, Rusty Stahl, Kelly Medinger, Kelly Chopus

Following our last discussion on board chair dynamics, members wanted to know more information on CEO performance review processes and templates from peers. Join this conversation in June as we take a deeper dive into the importance of CEO performance reviews, and how your organization can support talent management and diverse staff at your foundation and your grantees… Read More

Family Stories and Interviewing Elders

Posted on January 10, 2019 by Bill Leighty, Debbie Brodsky, Kelly Medinger, David Weitnauer

Capturing and sharing your family’s history is critical to understanding and appreciating your philanthropy, providing a window into the rich heritage of your extended family. Elders in your family often have particularly interesting stories to tell, and can help family members of all ages feel more connected with the generations preceding them, and gain an even greater appreciation of their… Read More

Creating Choices Before Making Choices: One Family Foundation’s Journey to Finding a Strategic Focus

Posted on July 21, 2016 by Kelly Medinger

Rooted in business principles, philanthropic study, and reflective practice, this article examines the first step of building a grantmaking strategy – finding an issue or problem to address – and presents a three-part model for creating choices that reflect a foundation’s donor intent, organizational talents and resources, and broader community needs. Ultimately, this process illustrates how a family foundation can find a strategic focus, either for all or simply… Read More