Donna Palmer is Executive Director of the Gary Sinise Foundation. Donna is a visionary leader with broad strategic and tactical experience in nonprofit leadership and development. Prior to joining the Foundation, she helped grow and guide a number of leading nonprofits, including St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, The American Diabetes Association, and Compassion International. She served as chief development officer at the LIVESTRONG Foundation, Upbring, and the Gary Sinise Foundation prior to assuming her current role.
During her distinguished career, she has been responsible for the management of broad-based giving programs, major gifts, planned giving, special events, foundation relations, corporate sponsorship and partnerships, donor relations and stewardship, marketing communications, advocacy, and volunteer and community relations.
Donna received a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, Marketing, and Public Relations at Drake University and a Juris Doctorate at Tulane Law School. She enjoys spending time with her daughter and her dogs. She is a lover of nature, history, and travel.