Staff Spotlight: Mackenzie Carlson
This December we are pleased to celebrate one of our team members, Mackenzie Carlson. Mackenzie is our Development Manager and responsible for several aspects of our fundraising. She first learned about the YWRC through a friend and local historian when they were discussing the amazing work of women philanthropists in Central Iowa – one of which was our lead founder Louise Rosenfield Noun. 
If you’ve attended one of our events in the past year, you’ve likely been greeted by Mackenzie with a big smile and warm welcome. When she’s not helping events to run smoothly, she’s always busy behind the scenes working across multiple projects.
“My role as Development Manager is in three parts. I am the primary grant writer for the organization. If there is a proposal needed for funding, I am looking at it. Second, I manage and lead our direct mail appeals. Every financial ask you receive from the YWRC in the mail was first just dancing around in my brain. Finally, I help with all the fundraising CRM tasks. Data is life, and I am a big ‘ole fan.”
As you can see, Mackenzie brings excitement and thoughtfulness to her work.
“Mackenzie is an invaluable asset to the Young Women’s Resource Center. Her expertise in data management and her innovative approach to development have significantly advanced our mission. Mackenzie’s dedication and forward-thinking vision make her a standout leader in the field of philanthropy. We are incredibly fortunate to have her on our team, and we look forward to the continued impact she will make in the years to come,” says Kimberley Strope-Boggus, Senior Development Director.
Mackenzie is motivated in this role through her ability and desire to pursue continued learning and work-life balance.
“I wanted to build my skills in grant writing. I have previously worked at a larger organization with a broad mission. The YWRC offered me a chance to further my skills while working for an organization with a strong local, and specific, focus. I stay in this role because the YWRC offers me the flexibility to be a graduate student, a quality partner, and still have time to read.”
The perspective Mackenzie brings to her work is part of why she is so skilled and valued:
“I love when people send us financial support. Fundraising is an intimate task. When someone follows through with a financial contribution, it feels like we have gained a new lifelong relationship.”
That being said, Mackenzie also acknowledges the challenges that come with working the fundraising field.
“Central Iowa has a ton of meaningful and impactful nonprofit organization in which a person can give money. Finding ways to stand out in a sea of beautiful organization is hard. This is especially true because, on a personal level, we all care deeply about one another’s success.”
Mackenzie’s path to her current role started several years ago.
“In 2018, I graduated with a degree in Political Science from DePaul University. I spent the election cycle working across the state of Iowa knocking on doors. I needed a bit more stability than campaign life offered, and I found myself working at local nonprofits in administration and fundraising in Des Moines.”
When asked who Mackenzie’s role models were when she was growing up, and who they are today, she said, “I am still growing up, but when I was a kid, I loved women in sports. Holly Rowe and Erin Andrews on the sidelines were one of my favorite parts about watching sports. The surge in support for women is unbelievable. Today, my role models are people who are making an impact with the resources that they have. For example, Autumn Peltier, Blair Imani Ali, and Imani Barbarin make me rethink, reshape, and reimagine on a daily basis.”
The advice Mackenzie would like to share with youth today aligns well with our work and can resonate with all of us:
“Therapy is a hard journey, but the results are magical.”
In her free time, when she’s not working or studying as a graduate student, she likes to read, scrapbook, practice yoga, “annoy” her cats, travel, attend concerts, and try to discover the best latte in the world.
Three things you may not know about Mackenzie are:
- She currently serves on three boards: Des Moines Street Collective, YNPN Des Moines, and UMC YPCN.
- Her favorite book is the Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, and she “thinks about it all the time”.
- She listened to 70,000+ minutes on Spotify in 2024.
Thank you, Mackenzie, for working so diligently to ensure our participants have the resources they need to succeed. There is no doubt that you are making a positive impact not only for them, but for our whole community. Thank you for sharing your skills, intelligence, and abundant laughter with us. We appreciate you!