Emily Walsh

About Emily Walsh

As a non-profit operations professional, I am a visionary leader who helps turn information into action. I am a creative change-agent and avid learner who enjoys solving difficult organizational, operational, informational, and process-related challenges facing non-profits and higher education. I have 15+ years of experience in philanthropy operations and administration, including technology and business transformation, prospective donor and pipeline development (research & prospect management), data analysis & business intelligence, reporting, records management, data and business process governance, data stewardship, talent development, strategic planning, campaign strategy and management, volunteer engagement, and public speaking. I am also a life-long learner: most recently, I completed a summer intensive in English Literature at the University of Oxford in 2024. Additionally, as a graduate student in the University of Arizona\'s International Security Studies program (part of the School of Government & Public Policy in the College of Social & Behavioral Sciences), my research focused on non-traditional human security issues, particularly the role that gender and wealth inequality, declining natural resources, and climate change play on global conflict dynamics, health, and human rights.Finally, I\'m a book lover! With two friends, I co-founded the Tucson Tome Gnome, which is a community book-sharing/book-hiding nonprofit. You can read more about it below! ALSO, fun fact: we were featured on NBC\'s The TODAY Show in May 2023 (link below!).

Experience

1. Chief Operating Officer

   Community Foundation For Southern Arizona

   Jun 2022 — Present · Tucson, AZ, US

   The Community Foundation for Southern Arizona connects donors to the causes they care about, serving as a vital link between philanthropy and the community’s needs. In our role as convener, facilitator, collaborator, and educator, we work directly with donors, nonprofits, local government, the business community, and other partners in philanthropy throughout Southern Arizona to inspire and enact long-term solutions for our community\'s most pressing problems. Since our inception in 1980, we have been a leader in change and have nurtured many of the region’s most outstanding nonprofit and educational institutions to create an equitable and vibrant community for all Southern Arizonans. Our collective work touches every aspect of daily life, including animal welfare, arts and culture, education, environment, equity and inclusion, health and human services, and so much more.

Education

• University of Oxford

  Certificate, English Literature (British and Commonwealth)

• James Madison University

  B.S., Sociology, minor in Anthropology

  2001 — 2005

• University of Chicago

  M.A., Social Sciences

  2005 — 2006

• University of Arizona

  Master of Arts - MA, International Security Studies

  2019 — 2022

• University of Arizona

  Fellow, Academic Leadership Institute

  2016 — 2017

Skills

• Strategic Policy Development
• Editing
• Prospect Management
• Analysis
• Higher Education
• Research
• Program Management
• Prospect Research
• Strategic Planning
• Nonprofit Organizations
• Management
• Records Management
• Nonprofits
• Fundraising
• Strategy
• Grant Writing
• Leadership
• Proposal Writing
• Training
• Philanthropy
• Policy
• Qualitative Research
• Process Improvement
• Non-Profits