Kathy Hansen

Vice President for Development

Kathy Hansen was named Vice President for Development in December 2011. With over 27 years of fundraising experience, she will use her new cabinet position to lead the organization in expanding philanthropic revenue.

“I am thrilled to be a part of the Lutheran Social Service team. The LSS mission is inspiring and compelling. I look forward to building on a solid record of development as together we create an even more ambitious program of major and planned giving. Lutheran Social Service is changing the lives of Minnesotans and I am convinced that an increasing number of donors will want to give generously in support of LSS.”

Kathy grew up on a farm outside of Rockford, Illinois, and received her Bachelor’s degree from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. Prior to joining LSS, Kathy most recently served as a senior consultant with the international fundraising consulting firm of Bentz Whaley Flessner.

For 17 years, Kathy served at Luther Seminary as Vice President for Development and Executive Director of the Luther Seminary Foundation. While there, she led highly successful annual giving programs and three major fundraising campaigns to advance the goals, educational initiatives and endowment at the seminary. Early in her career, she was Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Midland Lutheran College in Fremont, Nebraska.

In 2009, Kathy received the Virgil Andersen Award from the national Association of Lutheran Development Executives (ALDE) recognizing her career accomplishments as a fundraiser.  Kathy is also a frequent speaker and consultant for ALDE, In Trust, the Association of Theological Schools and the Minnesota Committee on Planned Giving. She is thrilled to rejoin a mission-driven service organization like Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota.

Kathy and her husband, David, an attorney, reside in St. Paul, Minnesota. They have two daughters: Elizabeth is a fundraising professional and Abigail is in graduate school earning a degree in Special Education. The Hansens are members of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Minneapolis.

To contact Kathy:
Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota
2485 Como Avenue
Saint Paul, MN 55108
Phone: 651.642.5990