Karen Gallardo

Since the start of 2015, Karen Gallardo has led the team helping donors who make a gift to Best Friends in their will, trust or other financial plan. Karen streamlined and strengthened the estate administration processes at Best Friends to ensure that all donors' wishes are fulfilled after their passing. She is a frequent speaker on legacy and estate planning, and has created resources on planning for your pets. She helps facilitate collaboration across all development functions and is a leader in planning and executing the campaign to Save Them All, Best Friends' first comprehensive fundraising campaign. In addition, she leads the gift acceptance committee in reviewing different types of gifts and gifts of assets.

Karen is also a certified yoga instructor and enjoys teaching yoga to staff and donors in the animal areas at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. Yoga with potbellied pigs, cats and bunnies provides a different and fun way of interacting with the rescued animals at the Sanctuary.

Before coming to Best Friends, Karen worked for the AARP Foundation, The Aspen Institute and The Nature Conservancy. She earned her undergraduate degree at the University of New Mexico and her M.B.A. at George Washington University. After graduate school, Karen completed the Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) and Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP) certification programs. Karen resides in Arlington, Virginia, with her husband and their two busy terriers, Bogey and Mulligan.