Cathy Sanders

Cathy Sanders

Chief Philanthropy Officer

As Chief Philanthropy Officer at Humane Colorado, Cathy Sanders leads the organization’s comprehensive fundraising strategy, ensuring the vital resources needed to fulfill its mission of ending pet homelessness and animal suffering. She oversees a dedicated team responsible for all fundraising efforts, including annual giving, major gifts, foundation grants, planned giving, corporate partnerships and sponsorships, events, and fundraising programs. Under her leadership, the team works to secure the critical funding necessary to drive Humane Colorado’s mission forward.

With three decades of experience in fundraising and nonprofit leadership, Cathy has dedicated her career to advancing meaningful causes. Prior to joining Humane Colorado, she held leadership roles in fundraising for adult and pediatric academic medicine, higher education, and a public library system. She also served as Vice President at a global nonprofit focused on combating hunger and poverty by empowering smallholder farmers—particularly women—to build sustainable agribusinesses. Most recently, she was the Chief Philanthropy Officer at the Jewish Community Center of Denver.

Cathy is deeply passionate about the powerful connection between humans and animals, believing that this bond has the ability to heal, inspire, and transform lives. She recognizes the profound role that companion animals play in bringing comfort, joy, and unconditional love to people from all walks of life. Her commitment to philanthropy is driven by a desire to strengthen this bond, ensuring that more animals find loving homes and that communities benefit from the well-being that animals bring into our lives.

A lifelong advocate for mission-driven organizations, Cathy brings both experience and academic expertise to her work. She holds a Master’s in Public Administration and a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, which she leverages to enhance the philanthropic impact of Humane Colorado. Based in Denver, Cathy and her husband are proud empty nesters to twin boys. An avid reader, she enjoys exploring books across all genres, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. She also revels in the beauty of Colorado’s mountains—a welcome inspiration for this Southern transplant.