Emily Kelley, Senior Director of Advancement
As the Senior Director of Advancement, Emily Kelley is a key partner to senior leadership, effectively designing and executing strategic priorities, particularly in human capital management and fund development. Her role is crucial in transforming high-level ideas into actionable plans that boost organizational effectiveness and efficiency.
Formerly as Chief of Staff, she served as a strategic advisor on critical issues, steering organizational alignment and execution of executive-level priorities, while fostering robust Board engagement to enhance the mission’s impact. In 2022, as Director of Executive Initiatives, she co-led the strategic planning process that culminated in the 2023-2025 Strategic Plan.
Prior to joining Child Care Aware of America, Emily was a founding member at a start-up which scaled a public health intervention from a single school to a nationwide nonprofit called Brighter Bites. As Program Director in Houston, TX, she forged partnerships between community health organizations, for-profit industries, schools, and communities with low incomes with the aim of increasing access to healthy foods, reducing food insecurity, and promoting long-term behavior change towards healthy eating. During her tenure leading Houston operations, the program expanded to 50 schools serving 8000 families each year.
Emily holds a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology and International Studies from the University of South Carolina and a master’s degree in Peace & Development Studies from the University of Limerick, Ireland.
