Kat Salerno

Director, Development Operations

Kat Salerno, Director of Development Operations, is a fundraising operations leader with nearly two decades of experience advancing mission-driven work across research, education, and nonprofit sectors. At PolicyLink, Kat champions data-driven strategy, operational excellence, and inclusive team culture to strengthen fundraising infrastructure and long-term philanthropic growth.

They specialize in advancement services, CRM strategy and reporting, campaign readiness, and building high-performing teams. Kat has led the development of transformative systems to support major fundraising initiatives, including annual and capital campaigns, by aligning technical operations with strategic goals. Their leadership has shaped donor stewardship, solicitation planning, and cross-departmental collaboration at institutions such as RAND Corporation, Art Center College of Design, and Georgetown University.

Kat is based in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, and is a dedicated volunteer with Hawaiʻi Marine Animal Response, supporting endangered marine wildlife conservation.

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