We are thrilled to announce Kelly Walberg, Vice President of Marketing & Communications at the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee (CFMT) in Nashville, has joined our Board of Directors! Kelly is a dynamic communications leader known for her ability to energize teams and transform complex strategies into clear, compelling narratives that inspire action.
At CFMT, Kelly leads the marketing and communications team, amplifying impact through powerful storytelling, cross-sector partnerships, and bold civic leadership. She is a trusted voice in philanthropy, having guided CFMT through a strategic rebrand, a transition from a founding president to a new CEO, and national initiatives like Press Forward and CFAI’s Make More Possible campaign.
Kelly was inspired to join the board as Tennessee is rapidly changing, and she believes the nonprofit sector must evolve alongside it. This role offers an opportunity to support nonprofits across the state with enhanced communications tools, shared storytelling strategies, and capacity-building support, especially for those working closest to community challenges.
For Kelly, nonprofit partners are at the heart of community progress. She sees them as service providers, bridge-builders, and first responders in times of need, reflecting the essence of who we are and who we aspire to become.
During her time with Tennessee Nonprofit Network, Kelly hopes to strengthen nonprofit storytelling and marketing capacity across the state. Her goal is for every mission-driven organization, regardless of its size, to possess the tools to inspire action and garner support.
Kelly has been married to Matt Walberg for two decades, describing him as a creative and compassionate force who fills their home with music, positivity, and laughter. They have two children who keep them engaged with their curiosity and creativity, along with two beloved dogs: Babushka, a 5-year-old Australian Shepherd, and Lady Grey, a 15-year-old Queen Rescunese who holds all the “doggie wisdom.”
As Vice President of Marketing & Communications at CFMT, Kelly’s favorite aspect of her work is translating community giving into meaningful stories. These narratives build trust, spark generosity, and unite people around a shared purpose.
A book Kelly recently read and recommends is “The Blue Zones” by Dan Buettner. This book explores the habits and environments of the world’s longest-living people, and what struck Kelly most was the strong link between longevity and community, purpose, and simple daily rituals. It served as a reminder that well-being extends beyond just diet or exercise, encompassing connection, belonging, and the chosen pace of life.
What Kelly loves most about Nashville is its nature as a crossroads where stories, cultures, and movements converge. She appreciates its creative energy and the community’s deep, often understated, resilience and generosity.
Her all-time favorite movie is “Clue.” She describes it as the perfect blend of mystery, chaos, and wit, with every line being a “zinger” and an “unhinged” cast. She loves that it doesn’t take itself too seriously while still delivering a clever, satisfying story with multiple endings. It’s a movie she can, and does, quote endlessly.
Nashville’s greenways are Kelly’s favorite local spots. As someone who values connection, these paths lead her through beautiful parks, a bustling downtown, and along the waterways.
A surprising hobby Kelly enjoys is training for triathlons. She finds balancing work, parenting, and training challenging but views it as another “trifecta” that has taught her much about discipline, perseverance, and self-care.
If she could travel anywhere, Kelly would go to the Nordic countries, particularly Sweden and Norway. She finds the combination of natural beauty, everyday rituals like sauna culture, and simple, seasonal food very appealing. She cherishes the idea of warming up in a lakeside or floating sauna, taking a cold plunge, and then sharing a meal, describing it as a grounding and memorable experience that encourages a slower pace of life.
For someone starting a career in the nonprofit sector, Kelly advises: “listen more than you speak.” She believes that those closest to the work—community members, program staff, or long-term partners—often possess the clearest insights into what is needed. She encourages staying curious and humble, and not confusing passion with having all the answers, emphasizing that the job is to build trust, not just make change.
Outside of her work with Tennessee Nonprofit Network, Kelly is particularly passionate about local journalism. She views it as the connective tissue of communities and essential for a healthy democracy, arguing that without trusted local news, communities cannot truly understand needs, perceive solutions, or sustain progress. She sees local news as an “impact multiplier,” bridging the missions of the nonprofit sector with public understanding.
A fun fact about Kelly that most people don’t know is that she spent years in a darkroom developing 35mm film and printing photos from her Nikon F3. She finds something magical in watching a captured moment slowly emerge on paper through light and chemistry, an experience that taught her patience, perspective, and the quiet power of storytelling.