Title: Director of Development
Company: Denver Botanic Gardens
Location: Denver, CO United States

Driven by her desire to be part of something that made a difference, Johanna Kelly decided to join the nonprofit sector. She fell in love with the field while she was still in college; her first job was for a nonprofit organization that raised money for scholarships and opened the door for a lot of people. Ms. Kelly earned an MBA in finance and a Bachelor of Arts in English and art history, which, combined with her previous experiences, was all the preparation she needed.

As the current director of development at the Denver Botanic Gardens, Ms. Kelly is able to utilize her strength of connecting people to things they enjoy. Denver Botanical Gardens is one of the top botanical gardens in the U.S., and offers both unique garden experiences for the family and plant conservation research programs. The core values of the nonprofit group are conservation, sustainability, diversity, transformation and engagement, which Ms. Kelly stands behind 100 percent. She is currently working on a capital project of $25 million for a building.

If Ms. Kelly could offer some advice to the younger generation, it would be to find something that fuels their dream and passion. She personally hopes to be known as someone who always added value. Ms. Kelly participated in the Association of Fundraising Professionals and the American Public Garden Association. Additionally, she is on the board of The Park People, an organization that maintains and up-keeps the parks, which require a lot of work. When Ms. Kelly isn’t working, she enjoys skiing, mountain hiking, country music, cooking, the opera, and hanging out with her sisters and dog.

Contact Johanna Kelley