Karen Turney

Karen Turney is the Senior Director of Philanthropy for World Food Program USA.

Karen brings nearly 17 years of experience partnering with individuals and foundations to help realize their philanthropic goals. Recent positions include Director of Development for Rice 360⁰ Institute for Global Health, Senior Director of Development at UTHealth and Managing Director in the Southwest regional office of UNICEF USA. Karen’s first experience in fundraising was in elementary school when she and a friend were so inspired by “We are the World” that they walked the neighborhood asking for donations to support food assistance in Ethiopia.

Karen received an executive certificate in public and nonprofit management from Georgetown University, an M.A. in Latin American Studies from The George Washington University, and a B.A. in Anthropology from Sewanee-The University of the South. She lives in Houston, Texas.