2024 40 Under 40 Winners

Kendall's journey in the nonprofit sector began early, driven by a passion for health-related causes. Starting with volunteer roles in fundraising and community engagement, she honed her skills through initiatives like Relay for Life and strategic roles in her sorority's philanthropy efforts for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Kendall's career highlights include pioneering impactful fundraising strategies at Children's Health, such as innovative programs in real estate and golf industries, which not only raised substantial funds but also set national benchmarks.

I have had an interest in pediatric healthcare since I was a child. The clinical side of healthcare never aligned with the vision I had for my life, so I focused on serving through parallel health-related organizations. I had limited knowledge of nonprofit healthcare systems until a former colleague recruited me for a development role at Children’s Health. I am eternally grateful for that colleague because this career allows me the opportunity to support the transformative work of frontline clinicians by mobilizing and empowering community members to join us in our mission “to make life better for children!”

Above anything else, the opportunity to help improve the lives and health outcomes of people in our community is highly motivating to me. The impact of development work is tangible and expansive as it touches every patient that walks through our doors. I am proud to be a small part of supporting the life-changing work of my patient-facing colleagues.

The most substantial step forward in my career is attributed to my studies at Pepperdine University and The Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University. Before I entered the workforce, these institutions provided me with foundational knowledge and understanding of the nonprofit sector; they primed me for success in my future career by guiding me in the development and refining of many professional skills through relevant literature and real-world application. They afforded me the opportunity to learn from top-notch practitioners and generated a network of resources that would have taken me decades to build on my own.

Throughout my life I have been very fortunate to have strong examples of servant leaders—from my parents to teachers to colleagues. It was instilled in me at an early age that we are called to love and serve each other and our community. Having this ingrained in me as a young child has contributed to it being one of my deepest passions now. I have a deep love for people and enjoy serving the community through a myriad of volunteer roles.

It is critical to be adaptive as the fast-paced worlds of healthcare and philanthropy both evolve quickly. Be confident in the knowledge you have but recognize that it is common to not know all the answers to donors’ questions, especially the clinical-focused ones. Strive to build a diverse network of relationships across the field that can support you and assist in providing these answers. While healthcare philanthropy is a competitive field, it is also highly collaborative, and most people are willing to serve as a resource for you—you will have plenty of opportunities to return the favor!