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Kyle Cartwright joins Civic Nebraska as director of development

Kyle Cartwright, CAP®
Kyle Cartwright, a Lincolnite with a proven track record of fundraising, nonprofit leadership, and philanthropic management experience, has joined Civic Nebraska as the organization’s new director of development. He began duties Nov. 1.
As director of development, Kyle leads the team responsible for Civic Nebraska’s revenue streams, which allow us to achieve our mission and maximize our impact across the state. He plans and organizes fundraising activities, stewards donors, manages Civic Nebraska’s development budget, and collaborates with partners around the state and nation to raise funds.
“A healthy society is an engaged and connected one, and Civic Nebraska invests in the spaces that bring us all together,” he said. “I’m excited to be a part of this important work at this important time.”
Kyle has served in a variety of roles during his career, including with the Lincoln Community Foundation, the Lied Center for Performing Arts, and the Nebraska Cultural Endowment. He also has founded two consulting businesses focused on corporate impact, nonprofit strategy, and effective philanthropy.
A 2013 graduate of the University of Nebraska, Kyle’s nonprofit career began with a transformative experience at the Lincoln Community Foundation. It was there, he says, where he developed his footing in fundraising, philanthropy, and community engagement. From 2018-22, Kyle also was executive director of the Nebraska Cultural Endowment, a unique public-private partnership. In the past five years, he has raised more than $11 million from public and private sources.
Like father, like son: Kyle and Porter jamming.
Presently, he’s a mentor with SCORE, a Small Business Association program that provides mentoring and resources to small businesses and entrepreneurs. Kyle also is developing a self-described “passion project” to increase the number of people in the fundraising profession with a specific focus on diversifying the talent pool for nonprofit development.
Kyle is a staff sergeant in the Nebraska Army National Guard, and he plays saxophone with the 43rd Army Band. He, his wife Koren, and three-year-old son Porter live in Lincoln. When he’s not working for the betterment of his community, Kyle loves cycling, listening to good podcasts, playing board games, and volunteering. He is the past president of the board of directors for Big Brothers Big Sisters Lincoln, having served for nine years as a “Big” of a local youth.
We’re very excited to have Kyle on our team. Reach him at ky*************@ci***********.org.