KELLY D. NOWLIN
KELLY D. NOWLIN is principal of KDN Philanthropy Consulting, developing strategies for family foundations and nonprofits. Nowlin speaks regularly on topics in philanthropy including next-generation engagement, social justice and racial equity, power and privilege, and impact and evaluation. A fifth-generation Andrus family member, she has been actively engaged for over 20 years in her family’s philanthropy. For 12 years, she served on the board of the Surdna Foundation, a family-led social justice foundation started by her great-great-grandfather, John Emory Andrus, over 100 years ago. Nowlin chaired the Thriving Cultures Committee and the Andrus Family Philanthropy Program, responsible for outreach to, and engagement of, nearly 500 Andrus family members. She also led efforts to mark Surdna’s 100th anniversary (2017) including national grantmaking initiatives and the launch of a collaborative economic development fund. As board chair of the National Center for Family Philanthropy (NCFP), Nowlin is an outspoken leader on the need for philanthropy to be accountable to power dynamics and racial equity. She co-developed the Racial Justice Learning and Action Cohort at NCFP for family foundation trustees to build knowledge, skills, and action plans that advance racial justice practices. Nowlin also regularly collaborates with and mentors next-generation philanthropists and facilitates opportunities for younger voices to be amplified.