Mimi Ward began her career over 30 years ago after graduating from the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor’s of Science degree majoring in Community Health Education. After an internship with the American Cancer Society, Kentucky Division, she was hired by ACS and for the next 18 years she was dedicated to program development, volunteer training, grassroots and event fundraising, unit leadership and planned giving. From there, Mimi became Director of Planned Giving for the American Printing House for the Blind, executing over 100 charitable gift annuities in less than 18 months. In 1999, Mimi returned to her alma mater as a Major Gift Officer, serving as an integral part of the team that developed UK’s centralized major gift program.

In 2004, Mimi took the reigns as Senior Development Director of the College of Arts and Sciences at UK initiating a portfolio and metrics system and increasing staffing. With her leadership, A&S increased endowment and planned gifts by almost $5 million, while meeting annual fund goals of up to $2 million per year. After 11 years with UK, Mimi became Senior VP of Advancement with Hosparus, Kentucky’s largest hospice provider with operations spanning 33 counties and based out of Louisville overseeing a successful comprehensive capital campaign and all fund development operations for this $45 million organization. Mimi returned to educational fund-raising by joining Sacred Heart Schools in Louisville, KY as the Executive Director of Institutional Advancement with primary responsibility for all fund-raising and management of staff for alumnae affairs, communications/public relations, special events, annual fund, and enrollment marketing.

As a veteran development professional, Mimi teamed up with Ashley|Rountree and Associates in mid-2015 specializing in educational clients of all sizes. From large-scale universities and college campaigns to private secondary schools, and small, specialized school systems, Mimi brings extensive fund-raising expertise and experience across a broad range of areas including annual fund, major gifts, planned giving and capital campaigns