Tonya Kelly

Tonya Kelly currently serves as Senior Director of Development at DU where she brings nearly a decade of dedicated service to the institution, having grown through roles of increasing responsibility across the College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences. Early work in national security and human rights laid the foundation for a career built on connecting communities with causes that matter. Rooted in the nonprofit sector, Tonya is an experienced leader having worked with a variety of organizations from grassroots advocacy to international think tanks, helping meaningful impact across the globe. Through her nonprofit career she has honed her skills in philanthropic strategy, gift planning, donor stewardship, nonprofit management, comprehensive campaigns, and board governance,  

A proud DU alumna and lifelong learner, Tonya holds a B.A. in Anthropology and German from CAHSS, a Master’s from DU's Sturm College of Law, a Master's in Nonprofit Management and Global Leadership from Regis University, graduate studies in Administration of Justice and Applied Intelligence from Mercyhurst University, as well as a paralegal certificate from the University of California, San Diego. Tonya holds the Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® (CAP®) designation from The American College of Financial Services and a 21/64 Certified Advisor credential, reflecting her specialized ability to engage multi-generational donors in values-driven giving conversations.