Meet Julie Coleman

Principal

With more than 20 years’ experience in philanthropy and a Certificate in Corporate Community Involvement from Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship, Julie’s unique perspective allows her to create approaches tailored to each client. Julie’s background includes serving as Director of Public Relations at the American Red Cross, Vice President of the Community Foundation and Director of Community Relations at US Airways, and Executive Director of the Arizona Public Service Foundation, among other roles. Her experience in this profession is a rarity as she worked directly for non-profit organizations as well as private sector corporations cultivating partnerships and purposefully guiding millions of dollars in donations to impactful community programs and projects.

Julie set the stage for corporations to embrace a culture of strategic philanthropy by determining new and innovative focus areas aligning with specific brands, negotiating partnership agreements and managing cross-sector relationships, implementing new programs utilizing cause-related marketing and promoting a culture of volunteerism by planning and organizing community events. Her approach is collaborative with a focus on impact and making a meaningful and sustainable difference.

Julie is a Phoenix Business Journal “40 Under 40” awardee, Valley Leadership graduate and volunteers with numerous non-profit organizations. As a philanthropic leader throughout her career, Julie served on a number of non-profit boards, including Hospice of the Valley, Arizona Grantmakers Forum, Fresh Start Women’s Foundation, Treasures 4 Teachers, Arizona Humane Society and the Arizona Governor’s Commission on Service and Volunteerism.

Julie leverages her career and volunteer experiences as an Instructor for the ASU Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation and has also served as a Faculty Associate at Arizona State University. Julie received the American Red Cross Tiffany Award for Employee Excellence and was recognized as a finalist for the PR News’ Non-profit Award for a cause-related marketing program she derived and implemented.

This extensive and practical experience grants Julie the ability to see the full picture and address each client’s needs thoughtfully and successfully. She prefers working peer-to-peer, with a strong belief in collaboration, servant leadership and shared purpose. Her passion, dedication, and rigor allow her to build relationships spanning non-profits, businesses and individuals/families, helping them cultivate change in their communities and organizations alike. Julie is truly a champion for societal good.