Karen Y. Mills brings over 20 years of nonprofit leadership to her role as Chief Fundraising and Outreach Officer at the Whitney Marsh Foundation. A former third-grade teacher in Fort Smith, Arkansas for 23 years, Karen blends her background in education with a lifelong passion for philanthropy. She holds a B.S. in Elementary Education from the University of Arkansas and a Master’s from the University of Arkansas–Little Rock.

Her career highlights include leading a $2 million capital campaign as Director of Development at Christ the King Catholic Church and advancing major donor initiatives at the Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Mid-South. She also played a pivotal role in the John Daly Celebrity Golf Tournament, which raised $800,000 across two years, and helped grant life-changing wishes for critically ill children.

A nine-year cancer survivor, Karen’s work is driven by a deep personal commitment to giving back and advocating for families facing similar challenges.