Kentucky Historical Society Foundation names Kathey Golightly Sanders next executive director

The Kentucky Historical Society Foundation ’s (KHSF) board of directors has named Kathey Golightly Sanders the organization’s next executive director, effective October 14.

KHSF supports the Kentucky Historical Society (KHS), a Frankfort-based agency of the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, in its work to make collections accessible to the public, provide educational opportunities for Kentucky students, and raise awareness about local history resources across the Commonwealth.

Sanders comes to KHSF from the Cedar Lake Foundation in Louisville, where she has served as executive director since 2020.

“I am so excited to join the Kentucky Historical Society as the Foundation’s executive director,” said Sanders. “It’s an incredible opportunity to support the work of the Society, not only to honor the history of our Commonwealth but also to bring it to life to impact current and future generations.”

Kathey Golightly Sanders is the new executive director for the Kentucky Historical Society Foundation.The KHSF board partnered with Ashley|Rountree and Associates—a Louisville-based firm supporting nonprofit fundraising, campaigns, strategic planning, marketing, and executive recruitment, among others—to conduct the search that led to Sanders’ selection.

“The Foundation is blessed to have Kathey as our new executive director,” said Steve Stewart, president of the KHSF board and president and CEO of Boone Newsmedia Inc. “Her deep experience and impressive record of success in fund development and donor relations, paired with her passion for Kentucky history, will make her a great ambassador for KHS as we build relationships throughout the Commonwealth.”

Sanders will collaborate with the KHS and KHSF teams to renew the development program that supports KHS’s mission, including expanding private support from both current and next-generation donors. She will also work to deepen engagement with an array of stakeholders and supporters and generally improve awareness about KHS and its value to Kentucky and its citizens.

Sanders brings extensive experience in nonprofit leadership, having served as executive director of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) of Kentuckiana prior to joining the Cedar Lake Foundation. She also held key fundraising roles with KentuckyOne Health Foundations, Nativity Academy at St. Boniface, Home of the Innocents, and Kentucky Baptist Homes for Children, and she spent more than a decade managing her own consulting firm. Sanders is a board member for Kentucky Refugee Ministries and previously served on boards for the Louisville Youth Orchestra, the Wayne E. Oates Institute and Nu HOME, formerly Choices Inc. She is also a graduate of Leadership Louisville.

Sanders holds a Master of Divinity degree from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville and a bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee, Oklahoma.

“Kathey joins our team at a pivotal time for Kentucky history,” said Scott Alvey, executive director of the Kentucky Historical Society. “Kentuckians are increasingly turning to history to better understand themselves and their communities. Kathey’s experience of connecting these interests to the mission of KHS will grow our network of people passionate about Kentucky history.”

Kentucky Historical Society Foundation

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