2025 40 Under 40 Winners

In her first year in planned giving at Children’s Medical Center Foundation, Carol Ann raised over $1 million in planned, outright, and blended gifts, including securing 18 new planned gifts. She also exceeded her first-year fundraising goal by raising $650,000 in both restricted and unrestricted gifts, achieving 135 percent of the original $480,000 goal. 
 
She retained 87 percent of her donors compared to a goal of 68 percent and upgraded 36 percent of donors compared to a goal of 24 percent, demonstrating exceptional donor stewardship.  

She created and led a matching gift initiative for the Red Cross Giving Day campaign, raising $287,000 in additional support and while at the American Red Cross, she led a regional year-end fundraising campaign that raised $4.1 million, surpassing its goal of $3.5 million. 

Carol Ann holds a summa cum laude degree from the University of Texas at Austin, where she double-majored in Rhetoric and Writing and Anthropology, and she speaks three languages, enhancing her ability to engage with donors from diverse backgrounds.  

I was recruited by Children’s Medical Center Foundation for role-related expertise, and once I started talking with my (future-at-the-time) colleagues, their passion shone so brightly that I couldn’t help but jump at the chance. What’s more, I had seen how quality healthcare — or a lack of access to it — impacted clients at every organization I’d worked with before. The ripple effects of healthcare can lead all boats to rise, and I love that our mission reverberates for individuals, families and institutions. A shared cause, cutting-edge solutions, tangible impacts — what could be better than that?

For me, working in healthcare philanthropy — and in my case, pediatric healthcare — combines the best of many worlds in terms of mission match. I've raised funds for several different causes, and the organizations I've worked with have all taught me, in one way or another, that helping children get the best start in life is among the noblest causes a community can pursue.

Access to high quality, comprehensive, compassionate healthcare is a vital first step in ensuring individuals and families can thrive. Collaborating with donors who share this vision, often shaped by their personal experiences, makes coming to work each day more meaningful than I ever imagined.

My very first boss in a development office told me that if the work spoke to my heart, and if I chose to stick with it, I'd find my niche. I had no idea what she meant at the time, but she was right! I've carried her words with me ever since, and after trying on all kinds of fundraising hats, I've found my passion in planned giving. Landing in the right role at the right time — and pressing onward with curiosity and tenacity — are invaluable, joyful parts of our line of work.

Like many who work in nonprofits, I'm privileged to say that the work I do is among my greatest passions. Anything that fosters connections with community, family and friends speaks to my heart.

Find a mentor you can be vulnerable with. Whether it’s someone whose impact you admire, whose role you want to explore or who has expertise in a subject you're curious about — and know that you have lots to bring to the relationship, too.