Karen Engelbourg

Karen Ann Engelbourg is the Senior Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations at Boston University. As the University’s chief advancement officer, Ms. Engelbourg manages all fundraising and alumni engagement with a 250+ person team. Partnering with BU’s president and trustees, Karen and her team have successfully raised more than $1.2 billion since the closing celebration of the University’s first-ever campaign in 2019. The Choose to Be Great campaign surpassed $1.85 billion, almost twice its original goal, expanding BU’s philanthropic support to more than 175,000 donors.

Prior to becoming Senior Vice President, Ms. Engelbourg served as Vice President of Development for six years. Before arriving at BU in 2010, Ms. Engelbourg served as Assistant Vice President at Brandeis University, Director of Principal Gifts and Donor Relations at Boston Children’s Hospital, and Director of Major Gifts at Harvard Medical School.

Ms. Engelbourg is a graduate of Brandeis University, with a B.A. in history. She is a frequent presenter at CASE and Women in Development.