As the vice president of finance & operations at the Boettcher Foundation, Karen Kruse develops the financial strategies, oversees the execution of investment management, and provides operational oversight to ensure alignment with the Foundation’s donor intent and strategic objectives.

Karen is a proven operational and financial executive and entrepreneur with a unique blend of leadership, business, technology, and service expertise.

Karen most recently served as the vice president for finance and chief operating officer at the Boulder Chamber, where she was primarily responsible for overall organizational excellence, but also served as the Boulder Chamber community driver for areas including DEI and Leadership Fellows, and was responsible for the launch and growth of the Boulder Chamber Foundation.

Previously, Karen was president of a business providing strategic consulting for the private, education, and non-profit sectors, served as chief operating officer for the Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation, and served as chief technology officer in multiple companies delivering technology solutions to the financial services, telecom, and e-commerce industries, both in the U.S. and internationally.

Karen received a dual B.S. degree from the University of Colorado in marketing/finance and electrical engineering/computer science.  Karen is a graduate of Leadership Denver and a Boettcher Scholar.

Karen enjoys tennis, traveling, camping, and hiking with her husband, daughter and two dogs.

Community Involvement:

• Impact on Education, board member and treasurer
• Governor’s Residence Preservation Fund, board member and treasurer
• Metro Volunteers (now Spark the Change Colorado), former board member and chair
• Canyon Cares, former board member and treasurer