Kelly Connor joined First Nations in February 2021 as the Donor Relations Manager. Prior to this role, Kelly worked as the program and communications manager for Philanthropy Missouri (formerly Gateway Center for Giving), where she developed 25 to 30 programs for grantmakers annually on topics ranging from trust-based philanthropy practices to emerging community needs.
Kelly holds a master’s degree in social work from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis and a bachelor’s degree in social work from Colorado State University. During her master’s program, Kelly served as a research assistant for the Kathryn M. Buder Center for American Indian Studies, and she completed her concentration practicum with Four Bands Community Fund on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation. Kelly previously worked on several community-based projects related to food security, gender-inclusive restroom access, the central rights of unhoused individuals, and environmental justice.
In her spare time, Kelly enjoys getting outside with her dog, Scout, listening to audio books, and trying new recipes.
