Kate Wolford

Kate Wolford became president of The McKnight Foundation in December 2006. The McKnight Foundation, a Minnesota-based family foundation, seeks to improve the quality of life for present and future generations through grantmaking, collaboration, and strategic policy reform in the following areas: arts, education and learning, environment, the region and communities, agricultural research, and neuroscience research.

Prior to joining McKnight, Wolford spent 13 years as president of Lutheran World Relief (LWR), a global grantmaking and policy advocacy organization. From 1991 to 2006, she worked at LWR, where she was named president after two years as program director for Latin America. Previously, she established Church World Service's Caribbean regional office for community-based development, and worked with Servicio Social de Iglesias Dominicanas.

Wolford has a B.A. in history from Gettysburg College, an M.A. in public policy from the University of Chicago, and an M.A. from the Divinity School of the University of Chicago.

Wolford serves on the board of directors of Greater MSP, The Johnson Foundation at Wingspread, and Living Cities.