Katherine M. Karpé

Katherine (Kathy) Karpé, CFRE, serves as the dedicated Chief Executive Officer and a prominent advocate for children, leveraging her extensive experience of two decades in collaboration with progressive organizations to address the needs of underserved children and youth. Since 2003, Kathy has dedicated her time, talents, and fundraising acumen to Casa de Amparo, where she initially served as Director of Development. 

 

Through vigilant stewardship and strategic planning, Kathy oversees all aspects of Casa de Amparo’s programs, services, and administration, aligning with the organization’s mission of treating and preventing child abuse and neglect. Kathy oversees strategic partnerships and donor relations, including leading the development team responsible for capital and major gifts efforts, grant writing, special events, volunteer recruitment, marketing and public relations, and gift drives. Kathy’s excellent interpersonal expertise, human resource management skills, and social intelligence make her a results-driven leader, evident by her 2018 Spirit of Carol Sigelman Award, presented to her by the North County Philanthropy Council in celebration of her effort to help others in North County San Diego.  

 

While serving as Casa de Amparo’s Director of Development, Kathy was instrumental in the construction of the TrueCare & Lennar Foundation health center, an on-site healthcare facility situated on the San Marcos Casa Kids campus. The center alleviates the challenge that foster youth face in accessing health care while providing a safe space for young women at Casa de Amparo who have suffered severe trauma. 

 

Kathy has been a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals for more than 20 years. When she’s not out making the world a better place for the Casa kids, she is with her husband, raising a teenage daughter, or enjoying time as a dog mom.