Key Contacts at the Community Foundation

How can we help?

If you have a general question or need to contact a staff member not listed here, please contact us at 816.842.0944 or info@growyourgiving.org.

Senior Leadership

As the leader of the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation and Greater Horizons, Debbie Wilkerson’s job is to help individuals, families and companies make the world a better place.

Debbie oversees a friendly, professional and flexible team dedicated to providing donors with an extraordinary giving experience.

Debbie earned both her undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Kansas. Prior to joining our team in 1998, Debbie was an attorney, focusing on tax and estate planning. Debbie served in a variety of roles, including general counsel and COO, before assuming the role of President & CEO in 2012.

Contact Debbie
816.627.3461

Brenda Chumley is responsible for managing business development at the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation and Greater Horizons, working to connect with new and existing donors.

Brenda joined our team in 1993, and she has played an integral role in developing many community foundation “firsts.” She developed our first online grantmaking system before any such product was available to the field. Brenda also worked to create a line of back-office services for community foundations across the country, and she established the in-house infrastructure and customer service system for Giving Cards.

Brenda earned her undergraduate degree in business administration from Ottawa University. She has served as a member of the Council on Foundations Leadership Team and has also participated in the Center for Creative Leadership program.

Contact Brenda
816.627.3409

Katie Gray joined our team in 2004, and she currently oversees all financial operations, including investment oversight, technology and accounting.

Katie oversees our investment program, which offers each donor the opportunity to customize the investments held in their fund by working with a trusted financial advisor of their choice. As part of this work, Katie collaborates with wealth advisors, attorneys and accountants to encourage them to incorporate charitable giving into their financial and estate planning strategies.

In 2017, Katie was named CFO of the Year by the Kansas City Business Journal. Katie earned a Bachelor of Science in accounting and business administration with distinction from the University of Kansas. She also earned a certificate in financial planning from the University of Missouri – Kansas City. Prior to joining our team, Katie worked in public accounting for KPMG and then gained private sector experience at Aquila, Inc. as a member of their accounting and finance team.

Contact Katie
816.627.3439

Corey Ziegler manages our legal duties and responsibilities, facilitating complex development and business transactions. Corey supports strategic efforts to build and strengthen relationships with the professional advisor community of attorneys, accountants and financial advisors, and she works directly with donors, helping them maximize and organize their giving.

Corey earned her undergraduate degrees in business administration and psychology and her law degree from the University of Kansas. Corey has been a part of our team since 2005. Prior to joining the Community Foundation, Corey was an estate planning attorney for seven years with Blackwell Sanders Peper Martin LLP (now Husch Blackwell).

Contact Corey
816.627.3464

Donor Services

Philanthropic Advisors, Donor Engagement and Grantmaking Services

Denise oversees the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation's discretionary funds. Denise also leads the Community Foundation’s work focused on equity and inclusion. Nationally, Denise serves on the board of the Grantmakers for Effective Organizations and is a Racial Equity Trainer for the Association of Black Foundation Executives. Prior to joining our team in 2007, Denise was the Chief Trial Assistant for the Community Justice Unit in the Jackson County, Missouri Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

Contact Denise
816.627.3417