Ben Carr, Director of Advancement, Kentucky 4-H Foundation
Members of the Board of Directors, Staff, and friends of the Kentucky 4-H Foundation:
It is an honor to be chosen to join the Kentucky 4-H Foundation as the new Director of Advancement. Originally from Montgomery County, I left home to pursue my B.A. of Architecture at Judson University, just outside of Chicago. It was during college that I first experienced the impact mentoring and out of school programs could have on at-risk youth. Through these programs I witnessed the light bulbs begin to turn on in the minds of these young people as they began to recognize and reach for their full potential. From that moment my passion for youth and community development sparked, igniting a need to look beyond volunteering for ways to create systemic change in the lives of youth. To this end, I spent six years working as a non-profit development professional for various organizations in the Chicagoland area.
Prior to taking the role with the foundation, I was the Associate Director of Development & Corporate Partnerships at HandsOn Suburban Chicago. In this role I oversaw the organizational development through marketing, fundraising and managing corporate events. Serving as the organization’s first full-time development employee, I implemented an annual development plan which sought to build a strong donor base by engaging current volunteers, strengthening board involvement and promoting the organization’s mission throughout the community.
Before my time at HandsOn, I was the Community Relations & Marketing Manager at Boys & Girls Club of Lake County, where I managed all club marketing initiatives and supported organizational development including two annual fundraisers, multiple grants, annual giving campaigns, and donor communications/relations. In this position I placed a particular emphasis on developing a more robust communications strategy to further engage with donors.
Outside of work, I enjoy cooking, watching and playing basketball, and spending time with my wife and two sons. I view joining the Kentucky 4-H Foundation team not only as an excellent fit for my skills, but more importantly—as an exciting opportunity to contribute to an organization dedicated to enriching the lives of Kentucky youth. I look forward to getting reacquainted with the community and getting to know each of you!
Warmest regards,
Benjamin
