Karen Brunn

Ms. Brunn is the Vice President of Research at United Way Worldwide (UWW). In this capacity she oversees all quantitative and qualitative research at United Way including Performance Research on 1,800 domestic and international United Way affiliates in 41 countries; Market Research on public and donor attitudes towards United Way and philanthropic giving; and Social & Economic research on the state of communities that United Way serves.

Ms. Brunn serves on the Advisory Council for Giving USA at the Lily School of Philanthropy at Indiana University. She is a member of the Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action (ARNOVA) and the American Society for Public Administration. She served on the Urban Institute Task Force for national charitable giving statistics. Prior to her career with United Way Worldwide, Ms. Brunn worked in data management and analysis at the Portland Cement Association and the Department of Justice.

Ms. Brunn holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, a Master’s degree from the University of Maryland, and a Master’s in Public Administration, with a concentration in policy and research studies from George Mason University. She has received executive education at Harvard University’s Kennedy School.

Ms. Brunn is an active community volunteer, having served on the St. Paul’s Strategic Planning Committee and Homeless Shelter Task Force. She regularly volunteers with the St. Paul’s Men’s Shelter and as a reading tutor with Everybody Wins! D.C.

Ms. Brunn resides in Arlington, Virginia with her husband Gail and their daughter Sofia.