Kathleen McCarthy joined the Knott Foundation in 2007 and, after serving as the Foundation’s first Program Director, was appointed Executive Director in April 2025. In this role, she oversees the Foundation’s general operations, supports board development, manages grantmaking efforts, and helps guide the organization’s strategic direction.

Kathleen holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia and a Master of Public Affairs from the LBJ School at the University of Texas at Austin. She has always been drawn to work at the intersection of people, purpose, and possibility. Her journey in policy and administration has taken her from a women’s micro-credit group in Dhaka, Bangladesh, to a policy think tank in Austin, Texas, and an artist’s studio in Burlington, Vermont.

Originally from New York, Kathleen has called Baltimore home for over 20 years, finding endless charm in a city that continues to surprise her. Throughout her time at the Foundation, she has built deep relationships with community partners and been continually inspired by the incredible work happening across the region.