ADRP Research Committee Literature Review

Kimberly Arndts
Lead Director of Donor Relations and Stewardship
Albion College

Kimberly serves as the Lead Director for Donor Relations and Stewardship at Albion College in Albion, Michigan. Over the past eight years, Kimberly has built the Donor Relations and Stewardship department from the ground floor. She also guides gift administration, and is responsible for working collaboratively with gift officers to develop individualized stewardship plans that will meaningfully engage, delight, and inform our donor partners. She believes that when we speak from hearts full of graciousness, respect, and service, the more likely our donors will keep talking to us, feel a sense of belonging, and respond to fundraising initiatives when the right fit comes along. “Negativity exhausts people. Let’s give them some energizing, life-affirming happiness.” Kimberly earned her bachelor’s degree from Albion College in 1984, and in 2020 completed her master’s in philanthropy and development from LaGrange College, Georgia.

Katie Kutney
Associate Director of Advancement
Berkshire School

With nearly two decades of fundraising experience, Katie is committed to sparking and sustaining authentic, meaningful connections between donors and the communities they support. At Berkshire School, a coed independent boarding school in the bucolic Berkshire hills of western Massachusetts, she is involved in all areas of advancement, with an emphasis on strategic planning and operations, metrics and reporting, communications, and board relations. Katie serves as enthusiastic co-chair of ADRP's Research Committee, where she and fellow committee members are dedicated to sharing research insights that make the data-driven case for investing in donor relations. Katie earned her bachelor's degree in religion from Princeton University and a master's degree in public administration with a certificate in nonprofit management from Rutgers University-Newark.

Elizabeth Menne
Stewardship Specialist
Auburn University

Liz Menne, Stewardship Specialist at Auburn University, has over a decade of experience in higher education, focusing on supporter experience. Her career has taken her across the Southern U.S. to learn and improve how institutions engage with their donors. Liz oversees mass reporting, fund audits, and fund compliance while supporting her teammates with personalized engagement opportunities. Liz earned her bachelor’s degree in 2010 and her master’s degree in 2012 from the University of Miami. Outside of work, she enjoys a good workout, a good book, and a good cup of coffee.

Margaret Stutt
Director of Donor Relations
UC Berkeley