Kara Foley

Driving Social Impact for Corporations | Global Health | Education | Community & Workforce Development

Washington, District of Columbia, United States

About

My professional (and personal) focus is on building trusted relationships and shaping stories that turn shared values into measurable impact. I specialize in managing multimillion-dollar partnerships, stewarding complex grants, and aligning organizational priorities with funder and corporate objectives to create long-term, sustainable outcomes. I currently manage corporate donor relationships at Orbis International, a global health nonprofit dedicated to ending avoidable blindness. In this role, I work closely with corporate partners to design and steward global programs that combine technical excellence, strong accountability, and compelling impact narratives, supporting partnerships that generate more than $5M annually. Previously, I managed and grew a $50M US Government grant portfolio at the UN World Food Programme, overseeing post-award implementation while advancing funding priorities across food assistance, resilience, and capacity building. I’m excited by collaboration across sectors and enjoy working with partners who are thinking strategically about where their resources can make the greatest difference. I love connecting with people doing thoughtful, impact-driven work — across nonprofits, the private sector, and civil society — and am always open to a conversation (fair warning: I’m a self-professed extrovert).

Experience

  • Orbis International (New York, New York, United States · Remote)
    • Senior Corporate Partnerships Officer
      Jan 2025 - Present · 1 yr 6 mos

      Manage and grow a portfolio of corporate partnerships, stewarding high-impact relationships that contribute more than $3M annually to Orbis’ global mission. Collaborate with global partners across logistics, eye care and medical devices, and luxury consumer brands—including FedEx, Alcon, OMEGA, and HOYA—to create customized stewardship and activation opportunities spanning employee engagement, workplace giving, and program sponsorships. Translate complex global health programs into clear, compelling narratives that demonstrate value, accountability, and measurable impact for corporate partners. Lead partnership renewal and expansion efforts by identifying growth opportunities, developing tailored proposals, and designing engagement strategies that deepen commitment and increase investment—driving partnership growth of up to 40%. Support organizational strategic planning by informing long-term corporate fundraising and engagement initiatives.

    • Corporate Partnerships Officer
      Oct 2023 - Jan 2025 · 1 yr 4 mos

      Support a portfolio of mid-to-high level corporate donors exceeding $1 million annually. Identify and propose opportunities to renew and expand existing partnerships, including developing proposals, overseeing employee engagement events, and upselling accounts. Lead employee engagement portfolio, generating additional corporate donations ranging from $10-50K and generating awareness of nonprofit mission across sectors.

  • Government Partnerships Officer at World Food Programme
    May 2021 - Oct 2023 · 2 yrs 6 mos

    Managed the USAID grant portfolio for four countries in Southern Africa and provided support to five countries in Western Africa, totaling to a $50 million portfolio. Facilitated application lifecycles from negotiations until confirmation of funding, as well as program implementation and post-award management. Wrote monthly strategic briefs to advocate for additional funding from US Government.

  • Syracuse University - Maxwell School (1 yr 5 mos)
    • Graduate Research Assistant / Research on Conflict and Collaboration (PARCC)
      Aug 2020 - May 2021 · 10 mos

      Conducted research on relevant projects concerning conflict resolution, collaborative governance, public administration issues, and participatory governance. Wrote scholarly articles and edited the work of peers. Created online surveys on public opinion and analyzed consequential data.

    • Policy Research Assistant / Maxwell X Lab
      Jan 2020 - Aug 2020 · 8 mos

      Conducted research projects on behavioral science interventions and relevant public policy, compile research into memos to update research team and potential clients, performed evaluations on how clients have allocated grants/utilized funds, and assisted with website design to explain the Lab’s approach of randomized controlled trials and behavioral science.

  • Research Analyst at Syracuse University - Renée Crown University Honors Program
    May 2019 - May 2020 · 1 yr 1 mo

    Received funding to conduct interviews in the Sacatepéquez region of Guatemala concerning volunteer tourism. Interviewed students, teachers, locals, and parents on perceptions of foreign volunteers, their effects on local communities, and US policy implications. Continued to collect research via scholarly articles to complete International Relations Distinction Thesis.

  • Public Policy Intern at Princeton Public Affairs Group, Inc.
    May 2019 - Aug 2019 · 4 mos

    Attended state legislative committee meetings and voting sessions, conducted research projects, assisted in daily news monitoring, and wrote memos to update coworkers and clients on current legislation.