Team update: Kai Carter appointed as Head of Global Programs

Waverley Street Foundation (WSF) proudly announces the appointment of Kai Carter as the inaugural Head of Global Programs. Waverley Street Foundation has a mission to cultivate a more healthy, just and joyful world where communities are key to unlocking climate solutions. Recognizing that the window of opportunity is now, Waverley Street is committed to spending down its $3.5 billion endowment to grow deep and lasting change.

With more than two decades of experience in environmental sustainability, community resilience, and social equity, Carter brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to this critical new role. Carter will take on a pivotal leadership position within the organization, heading a team dedicated to supporting international communities in implementing climate change solutions.

Jared Blumenfeld, Waverley Street Foundation’s President said, “We are so glad to welcome Kai Carter to the Waverley team as our first Head of Global Programs. Her expertise is crucial as we support community-centered climate solutions in the Global South. Kai’s appointment marks a significant step forward as we work towards a more resilient, just, and joyful world.”

Carter’s career has been dedicated to exploring the vital connection between environmental health and human well-being. Prior to joining WSF, Carter served as Director of the Global Climate Initiative at the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, where she led the Foundation’s investments to halt tropical deforestation and promote just and sustainable development. During this time she played a pivotal role in leading Forests, People, Climate, a collaborative of philanthropic donors and civil society with a similar purpose. She has managed teams and programs working at the intersection of people and the planet in Africa, Asia, and the Americas.

“Joining Waverley Street Foundation is an opportunity to center communities in transformative climate solutions that deliver global benefits,” said Kai Carter. “Our growing team will partner with leaders, organizations, and movements to support innovative initiatives that benefit community health, livelihoods, and well-being, while also bending the curve on greenhouse gas emissions.”

Recognized as an adaptive, values-centered leader, Carter has demonstrated her steadfast dedication to confronting global challenges such as gender equity, climate change, and food security across the nonprofit, philanthropic, and public sectors. A staunch advocate for the rights of women, girls, and communities of color, she is also highly skilled at co-creating high-level visions and managing initiatives that make those visions a reality on the ground. Carter's acumen in navigating the intricacies of philanthropy, particularly especially within the context of the global climate movement, is underscored by a proven track record of fostering community-level change that ensures equity of impact.

Carter earned a B.A. in International Relations from Brown University, a Master of Public Policy from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Development Studies from the University of the South Pacific.