Strengthening Leadership to Advance Philanthropic Impact

Published July 8, 2026 | Request Information

For Emily Hamsher Kindred, fundraising has never been about asking for money. It is about connecting, listening, and helping people make a difference.

As Senior Director of Development for the Whiting School of Engineering at Johns Hopkins University and a recent graduate of the university’s MS in Organizational Leadership program, Hamsher Kindred builds relationships with alumni, parents, and supporters whose generosity advances research, scholarships, innovation, and student success.

“When that alignment happens, it feels like magic,” she said. “People already want to make a difference. My role is helping them find the place where their generosity can have the greatest impact.”

Raised in Charleston, West Virginia, Hamsher Kindred grew up in a family deeply involved in community service. Her father worked in social service and politics, her mother was a teacher, and volunteering was a regular part of family life.

“We were always stuffing envelopes, volunteering, and helping with community projects,” she said. “I grew up understanding the importance of giving back and being involved.”

While earning dual bachelor’s degrees from Duquesne University in corporate communication, and public relations and advertising, she initially envisioned a career in public relations or event planning. An internship with the National Kidney Foundation introduced her to fundraising and revealed how relationship-building could advance meaningful causes.

“I realized I could take those communication and event-planning skills and apply them to community advocacy and mission-based work,” she said.

Over the next 15 years, Hamsher Kindred held advancement leadership roles with organizations including St. Coletta of Greater Washington, Alpha Sigma Tau National Sorority, and the Maryland Food Bank. One of the most memorable periods came during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It was the most altruistic period of philanthropy I’ve ever experienced,” she said of her time at the food bank. “People simply wanted to help.”

In 2022, she joined Johns Hopkins as director of development for The Hopkins Fund, drawn by the opportunity to learn and grow within one of higher education’s leading advancement organizations. She assumed her current role in July 2025 and now oversees a philanthropy team of four major gift officers, as well as the donor relations and stewardship team, supporting some of the university’s most ambitious priorities.

“I wanted to be surrounded by people doing some of the best work in the industry,” said Hamsher Kindred, whose husband is part of the Hopkins student affairs team. “Johns Hopkins has a culture of excellence that pushes you to grow.”

That commitment to growth – and the practical benefit of tuition remission offered to Hopkins employees – led her to the MS in Organizational Leadership program. As a leader responsible for developing teams and managing complex initiatives, she was drawn to the program’s emphasis on people-centered leadership, over processes, and the importance of being authentic and staying true to yourself.

“I evolved significantly through the program, and I came away with a lot of transferable skills,” she said. “It helped me better understand how organizations function and how leaders make decisions. It also gave me greater empathy for the challenges leaders face in large institutions.”

Today, Hamsher Kindred sees herself as a servant leader – someone who is committed to “getting in the weeds with my team to do the hard work” – while also balancing accountability, empathy, and mission.

“My goal is to be a transformative leader,” she said. “I want people to understand not only what we’re doing, but why we’re doing it. I found the Organizational Leadership program so beneficial that I have already encouraged some of my colleagues to pursue the degree.”

That focus on people remains central to both her leadership style and her fundraising philosophy. Whether working with a donor making a modest contribution or considering a transformational gift, she never loses sight of the generosity behind every decision.

“Every gift represents generosity,” she said. “Someone is choosing to support your mission instead of countless other possibilities. It is far easier to have the money stay in your wallet. That’s something I never take for granted.”

After more than 15 years in fundraising, Hamsher Kindred remains energized by the relationships at the heart of the work.

“I have the best job ever,” she said. “I get to meet innovators, researchers, and people doing some of the most interesting, cutting-edge work in the world. Then I get to help other amazing people find meaningful ways to support those efforts. I am proud to be doing this work under Dean Ed Schlesinger. He is one of the most inspiring leaders I have ever worked for, and it is incredible to help advance his vision for the School of Engineering.”

For Hamsher Kindred, philanthropy is ultimately about connecting people with opportunities to make a difference.

“We have a standard of excellence here. It mattered that my degree was from Hopkins because I wanted that degree of excellence behind my name,” she said. “Whether it is children’s cancer research, data science and artificial intelligence, the arts, or public health policy, there is an area across this institution that is a natural fit for anyone wanting to give back or pay it forward. Especially amid recent cuts to research funding, many donors are looking for ways to help sustain important work.

“I’ll be doing fundraising somewhere, somehow, forever,” she continued. “It is so special to help people create impact through their philanthropy.”