Kiff Gallagher

Biography

For over 20 years, I have developed strategies, mobilized resources, and created and grown organizations for social impact and public benefit. I am currently SVP of Growth and External Affairs at Winrock International where I serve on the Executive Team, manage corporate affairs and have built new teams and practice areas for brand strategy, public affairs, corporate partnerships, blended finance and philanthropy.
I began as a policy aide in the White House Office of Social Innovation where we designed the $400-million, public-private “domestic Peace Corps” initiative, AmeriCorps. As a founding AmeriCorps program officer, I managed a $20-million portfolio of education, health, community and environmental projects.
At CSR pioneer Odwalla Inc. I managed public affairs, communications and supply-chain environmental impact through a high-profile crisis and turnaround, leading to our successful corporate sale to the Coca-Cola Company. Later, as president of Social Venture Network, I recruited women, youth and technology entrepreneurs to increase revenue by 45 percent and accelerate global movements for sustainable business and impact investing.
After a five-year stint as a composer and recording artist, I created and led the Music National Service Initiative and MusicianCorps – a domestic “musical peace corps” with operations in six states and DC. I was honored with awards for leadership and social impact from Aspen Institute, GQ Magazine, James Irvine Foundation, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, St. Paul’s School Alumni Assoc. and elsewhere. My work has been profiled on NBC News, PBS NewsHour, NPR All Things Considered, Voice of America, Chronicle of Philanthropy and other local and national outlets. My music is licensed commercially worldwide.
Additional highlights: I've been a...frequent public speaker/ guest lecturer on business, innovation, social impact and public policy; active equity investor for 15yrs; paid adviser to the Gates Fdn, State Dept., two winning U.S. presidential campaigns and media, tech and investment companies.
I'm deeply grateful for and inspired by this co-creative journey. Thank you friends, teachers, mentors, teammates, dreamers and do-ers for life. What's next?! -Kiff