Kelli Bledsoe joined American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities (ALSAC), the fundraising and awareness arm for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, in 2022 as Corporate Partnerships Advisor for Georgia. She brings a variety of expertise through her philanthropic experience in corporate relations and corporate social responsibility. In her role, Kelli is responsible for generating new business opportunities, securing sponsorships, cultivating current and prospective corporate partnerships, and increasing corporate revenue for the Georgia territory. She oversees corporate engagement through a variety of avenues including employee engagement and volunteerism, corporate giving campaigns, event sponsorships, and cause marketing.

Kelli has previous experience at United Way of Greater Atlanta, Phase 3 Marketing, and Communications and Weber Shandwick Worldwide. In her most recent role as Senior Director of Corporate Relations and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) at United Way of Greater Atlanta, Kelli led the CSR strategy for new and prospective corporate partners, as well as cultivated and grew a $6M portfolio of corporate partners including Accenture, Bank of America, Georgia Power, Southern Company, GE, Rollins, The Home Depot, and The Coca-Cola Company.

Kelli received her Master of Public Administration with a concentration in Nonprofit Management from the University of Colorado Denver in 2019, where she developed a capstone thesis centered on strengthening corporate-nonprofit relationships in an ever-evolving corporate landscape. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations and Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs in 2015 from the University of Georgia. Kelli currently resides in Atlanta with her husband Tommy and their cat, Brad. Outside of work, you can find Kelli discovering Atlanta’s neighborhoods, exploring the outdoors with her husband, enjoying various forms of fitness, searching for her next best meal, and reading a good book.

Kelli was recognized as a part of the 30 Under 30 class of 2023 for the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network Atlanta Chapter. She also participated in the 2021 Association of Fundraising Professionals Diversity Fellowship. She was a part of the Young Leaders council for Warren Village during her time in Denver and currently serves on the giving committee for her neighborhood association, working to give microgrants to local nonprofits within her community.

What inspired you to pursue a career in public service?

I have always been drawn to philanthropic service through volunteering my time and skills, but I started my career in the public relations field and did not seriously consider working in public service professionally. The first idea of a career in nonprofit came from when I was involved with La Amistad, an Atlanta organization that focuses on education and ESL programming for Latino children and families. I was able to work with the Development Director of La Amistad at the time, Amy Hogan, who taught me what Development was, shared her career path with me, and encouraged me to pursue my passion. I decided to get my MPA at University of Colorado Denver shortly after and the rest is history!

What has been most meaningful to you about your career?

The world can feel heavy, and in recent years it feels as if it is only getting heavier and more divisive. I have been lucky enough to volunteer with, and work for, a variety of nonprofits committed to truly doing good and making an impact. Working in the public sector can be challenging in its own regard, but it also gives me hope for our future, and for future generations to continue to tackle pressing issues with compassion and intelligence.

What part of your education at the School of Public Affairs has had the greatest impact on your work?

I would say my capstone project truly left an impact on me. I was able to work with Girls Inc. of Metro Denver, analyzing the corporate partnership engagement for the organization and ways to strengthen private-public partnerships. I didn’t have a strong awareness of corporate relations as it pertains to fundraising and development, and it really opened my eyes to the impact these relationships can make on the community. I have worked with corporate partners ever since! I also appreciated that the AMPA (Accelerated Master of Public Administration) program pushed me to learn various subjects, such as accounting and negotiations, which I had not had the opportunity to learn in my undergraduate studies.

What is your favorite memory of the School of Public Affairs?

I really enjoyed the First Fridays series hosted by SPA, as well as the variety of speakers we had for lunch-and-learns and guest lectures. It was a fantastic opportunity to hear from a variety of alumni, government officials, local business leaders, and community advocates.

Looking ahead, what do you see as the biggest challenges that your field faces?

From a career perspective, fundraising is experiencing some interesting giving trends in the U.S. that present challenges. The income gap in the United States continues to expand, and data shows that it will continue to grow. There will be fewer and fewer middle-class donors who are able to give, and it will put a strain on organizations that rely on smaller/monthly donations by this large group of dedicated donors. On the individual donor side, we have to figure out how to adapt to this environment of a smaller and smaller giving pool, while also finding ways to play a role in reversing this trend of a growing wealth gap.

On the corporate side, corporations are becoming more and more laser-focused on their giving pillars, reducing the opportunity for giving to a wide net of nonprofits in various fields. Nonprofits will also have less and less opportunity for funding based on these trends. We have to learn how to adapt in this environment and position our nonprofit as flexible within multiple giving pillars.

What advice would you give to current students and professional development program participants at the School of Public Affairs?

Network and take a breath, students!

SPA has fantastic resources to connect you to alumni all over the country. I also was able to find internships during my time at AMPA through our school resources and staff like the Director of Student Services, who assisted me with any and every question I had!

You never know when that person you meet could reappear in your life, and building your network is a lifelong practice. During my time in Denver, I interned for the Denver office of ALSAC, my current employer, and was able to build relationships that led me to my current position in Atlanta. I would also network with anyone you encounter during your capstone project. For me, it was great to speak to larger corporate partners of a nonprofit, because it led me to my current career path!

For my AMPA students, every quarter can feel like a blur, but take a few moments to reflect on what you’ve learned throughout the year as a mental reset and reminder of why you signed up for this program!