Kimberly Palumbo, MPA

Kim Palumbo is a dynamic, nonprofit executive leader with more than three decades of experience driving operational excellence, financial stewardship, and mission-driven growth within the nonprofit sector. She has a proven track record of transforming organizations through strategic leadership, innovative programming, and strong stakeholder engagement—particularly in support of children and families facing significant medical and developmental challenges.

Kim has served as Executive Director of the HUGS Foundation, Inc., where she played a pivotal role in formalizing operations and ensuring long-term sustainability. She built a scalable infrastructure aligned with the Foundation’s global mission, strengthened Board governance, and expanded fundraising efforts. Kim revitalized signature events, developed high-impact donor strategies, expanded medical missions to new countries and enhanced the organization’s visibility through branding and digital engagement initiatives—driving both revenue growth and mission impact.

Prior to HUGS Foundation, Kim worked at the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Rochester, where she served as a grant writer and led special projects. She also held leadership roles at Lifetime Assistance, Inc., managing large-scale vocational programs, overseeing a multimillion-dollar budget, and developing innovative employment programs to support individuals with developmental disabilities. Kim brings a unique combination of operational, financial, and programmatic expertise, along with a deep passion for advocacy and service.

In her free time, Kim loves spending time with her husband and three children. Fun fact: her children are all the same age. Yes, triplets! She enjoys cooking, hosting friends and family, and spending as much time as possible outside. You can find her hiking on the Crescent Trails most weekends.

She holds a Master of Public Administration and a Bachelor of Social Work from The College at Brockport.