Karen Paterson

Biography

Karen Paterson is President of Stone Steps Foundation, a California philanthropy focused on advancing social and economic justice through scalable solutions to poverty. The foundation supports innovators whose work expands economic opportunity, strengthening communities and building resilience for the long term. Before establishing Stone Steps, Karen was a founding board member of the Moxie Foundation, where for nine years she partnered with civil society organizations and universities, leading initiatives in social entrepreneurship and sustainable development. Her philanthropic work is informed by her experience as an entrepreneur and corporate executive. She co-founded The Sutherland Agency, a global advertising firm where she served as CEO, following executive marketing roles in boutique agencies and department store companies in the US and the UK. Karen serves on the boards of Acumen and Global Communities.