Kimberlin Butler
Founder & Chief Possibility Catalyst
Dogwood City (GA),Portland (OR),Potomac (MD)
Dr. Kimberlin D. Butler, Ed.D., M.P.A.
Founder & CEO; Chief Possibility Catalyst
Dr. Kimberlin Butler is a globally recognized leader in social impact, with over 20 years of experience in education, philanthropy, and public affairs. As the Founder and Chief Possibility Catalyst of The L.E.A.D. Agency, a social impact and philanthropic strategy firm, and a Certified Impact Philanthropy Advisor, she inspires communities and youth to Learn, Excel, Achieve, and discover their Destiny (L.E.A.D.™). She is the architect of Youth-Possible Philanthropy®, a groundbreaking framework that centers youth as experts and partners in shaping philanthropic strategies to achieve transformational change. Her peer-reviewed article in The Foundation Review, “Engaging Youth in Philanthropic Practice: Field-Building Strategies and the Promise of Youth-Possible Philanthropy™,” advances the field’s understanding of how funders can operationalize shared-power approaches and field-building strategies that strengthen philanthropic practice. Her work has also been featured by Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (GEO) in a Perspectives piece highlighting Youth-Possible Philanthropy® in practice at the Peter & Elizabeth Tower Foundation.
Dr. Butler’s career includes pivotal leadership roles such as Senior Director of Foundation Engagement at Mathematica, where she pioneered an evidence-informed, equity-centered grantmaking framework. She also founded Mathematica’s Equity Community of Practice, embedding equity into philanthropic strategies organization-wide. During her tenure at Grantmakers for Education, she collaborated with over 600 foundations to create pathways for economic mobility and address systemic inequities.
Her public service extends to the Obama Administration, where she advised the U.S. Secretary of Education and operationalized the Place-Based Initiatives Pilot, aligning federal investments with local priorities. She also hosted a White House convening for funders to tackle chronic absenteeism, showcasing her expertise in convening cross-sector leaders for systemic change.
As a convener and collaborator, Dr. Butler has led initiatives at organizations like StriveTogether, where she managed a $15 million Accelerator Fund to advance cradle-to-career success for 8.2 million children. She also launched Beyond 12’s Atlanta office, forging partnerships with leaders such as former First Lady Michelle Obama to increase college graduation rates for under-resourced students.
A Baton Rouge native, Dr. Butler earned her doctorate in educational and organizational leadership from the University of Pennsylvania, along with degrees from Louisiana State University (BA) and the Maxwell School of Syracuse University (MPA). Recognized as one of DC’s Top 50 Women Leaders by Women We Admire and a 40 Under 40 honoree in Atlanta, she continues to be an influential voice in philanthropy. She is an alumna of Leadership Greater Washington, a member of The Links, Incorporated and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, and engaged in professional communities including the Association of Black Foundation Executives, as well as national and global funder networks.
At a time of historic generational wealth transfer, Dr. Butler is leading the launch of the Youth-Possible Philanthropy® Practice Network, convening foundations, investors, and youth to advance systems change through authentic youth–adult partnership. Through The L.E.A.D. Agency and service on multiple boards, she remains dedicated to transforming philanthropy, catalyzing possibilities, and fostering youth-centered solutions, creating lasting cross-sector impact.
The L.E.A.D. Agency is a social impact and philanthropic strategy firm helping foundations, nonprofits, and mission-driven organizations move from good intentions to strategies, practices, and systems that share power and expand possibility. The firm provides philanthropic strategy and advising, participatory learning and evaluation, leadership development, facilitation, youth and community engagement, governance design, and organizational strategy.
Founded by Dr. Kimberlin D. Butler, a Certified Impact Philanthropy Advisor, The L.E.A.D. Agency brings experience spanning philanthropy, government, education, and social impact. Dr. Butler’s leadership has included planning White House convenings as part of the White House Community Solutions agenda; advising the U.S. Secretary of Education on philanthropic alignment; helping lead philanthropic institutions making deep, place-based investments; serving as a foundation trustee; managing three national funder networks; and partnering with more than 70 urban, rural, and Native communities across the country.
Dr. Butler is also the architect of Youth-Possible Philanthropy®, a framework for moving young people from recipients of philanthropy to partners in shaping decisions, resources, and systems. Her work advancing youth engagement and philanthropic practice has been published in The Foundation Review, a peer-reviewed journal of philanthropy. She holds a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania (Penn).
The L.E.A.D. Agency also provides keynote speaking, workshops, executive and board facilitation, and customized learning experiences for organizations seeking to strengthen strategy, leadership, impact, and community-centered practice.
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