Following the groundbreaking of its new headquarters, Kids’ Meals sets its focus on high-impact
and lasting expansion to combat childhood hunger
“Ali’s genuine enthusiasm and out-of-the-box thinking make her an invaluable asset and leader to our team,” said Beth Harp, Kids’ Meals CEO. “Her deep understanding of nonprofit organizations and philanthropy, paired with her experience in fostering partnerships, will help us leverage funding and continue to make a difference in the Houston community.”
As CAO, Dodson is responsible for advancing Kids’ Meals’ mission through strategic fund development and communication strategies, with a focus on long-term growth and sustainability. Along with an unwavering dedication to the Kids’ Meals cause, she also brings a diverse skillset and voice to the team. Through her innovative approach that includes data-driven storytelling, comprehensive donor stewardship programs, and unique partnerships, Dodson strives to build on the organization’s successes and drive further impact.
“I am thrilled to join an organization whose mission and community outreach align so closely with my passions,” said Ali Dodson, Kids’ Meals Chief Advancement Officer. “I look forward to this new chapter and collaborating with the Kids’ Meals team and volunteers to continue to combat childhood hunger in the Houston area.”
Prior to joining Kids’ Meals, Dodson served as the Advancement Director at Coastal Prairie Conservancy. While leading and supporting the advancement team, she developed a highly effective corporate partnership program that resulted in significant growth in annual corporate contributions and created and implemented a comprehensive and robust donor stewardship program. From 2012 to 2016, Dodson served as the Pro Bono Consultant at St. Mark’s Episcopal School, where she played a key role in the strategic development and execution of a capital campaign. Finally, Dodson served as Senior Development Associate at Texas Children’s Hospital, where she was a member of a team responsible for the major gift fundraising portion of the $80 million Building for Children capital campaign.
Dodson earned her bachelor’s degree in environmental science and policy from Duke University. This year, Dodson is expected to graduate with her master’s degree in public administration from the University of Colorado Denver.
About Kids’ Meals
In 2024, Kids’ Meals will deliver more than 2.7 million free, healthy meals to the homes of hungry preschool-aged children who face debilitating hunger due to extreme poverty. Since 2006, Kids’ Meals has delivered more than 14 million meals and connected families to vital wraparound resources to help end the cycle of poverty. Kids’ Meals is the only program of its kind in the nation delivering an average of 9,869 free, healthy meals every weekday to 56 Houston-area zip codes. Visit www.kidsmealsinc.org, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X.
