United Way of Dane County

Each year, Women United honors a woman committed to making our community a better place to live, for all. The Women United Philanthropy Award recognizes her achievements in educating, empowering and inspiring women and girls to be philanthropic leaders in Dane County. This year, we are thrilled to honor Karen Kallerud! 

Karen’s lifelong commitment to service began long before her two decades of impact in Dane County. She was raised along the Mississippi River in a close-knit community where her mother volunteered for 25 years with the local elementary school, helping children learn to read, while her father served on local committees for over 40 years. This family culture of generosity inspired Karen to start giving back at a young age. In college, she joined Big Brothers Big Sisters and remained matched with her “Little Sister” for all four years, deepening her belief that meaningful change begins with showing up for one person at a time. 

After moving to the Madison area in 1990, Karen became woven into the fabric of the community. She spent five years volunteering at a community center food pantry, where she found the sense of belonging that continues to define her service. In 2008, she joined United Way’s 211 Helpline as a volunteer, gaining firsthand insight into barriers individuals and families face. 

As a Loaned Executive, Karen was a self-starter, skilled in project management and believed in teamwork. In her fundraising, she had the ability to engage an audience and craft a meaningful call to action, unfailingly sharing the message with those she met. Her efforts meaningfully strengthened initiatives addressing our community’s greatest needs through the Agenda for Change and now the Plan for Community Well-Being. Her enthusiasm was apparent every day through her work and in our community. She never stopped advocating for local nonprofits and initiatives, strengthening relationships with community members and volunteering at events, working behind the scenes with a contagious attitude. 

“United Way has done so much for myself and our community, and I LOVE being a part of it; supporting programs and volunteering,” Karen reflected. 

In retirement, Karen’s dedication has only deepened. She continues to serve as a United Way Account Executive, stewarding more than 20 business accounts and mobilizing thousands of dollars in corporate and in-kind gifts each year, always with her signature warmth and creativity. A beloved presence among each new Loaned Executive class, staff and volunteers, she is known as the “Queen of Thank Yous,” having handwritten hundreds of notes to donors and partners and always knowing how to brighten someone’s day. 

Karen has helped to raise over $5.67 million through 504 individual employee and corporate campaigns over the course of her 17-year tenure as Loaned Executive and Account Executive. 

Karen’s 10 years of service with our 211 Helpline shaped her advocacy for housing stability, senior independence and access to basic needs. She serves on the Dane County Homelessness Summit planning committee and the Sun Prairie Housing Coalition, working to educate the community, elevate lived experience and advance solutions to local housing instability.  

A member of Women United since 2009, Karen is deeply committed to supporting financial stability for women. She has quietly and passionately mentored women facing financial uncertainty, helping them budget, navigate resources, rebuild confidence and move toward stability. She also brings her lived experience as a breast cancer survivor to her volunteer work with ABCD (After Breast Cancer Diagnosis), where she has mentored 14 women. 

Karen said, “There’s nothing like shared experience, sharing your experience, strength and hope with people in the same situation.” 

A 2024 Advocate in Action Award recipient, Karen leads philanthropically as well. She and her husband established the Jim and Karen Kallerud Fund in the United Way Foundation, ensuring long-term support for her beloved community. 

“It is important for me to make a difference in people’s lives; one family, one child at a time,” Karen said. “It is my honor to volunteer and make our community a better place to thrive.” 

Karen’s motto is “work hard and be kind.” Her life is a testament to those words, and we are honored to celebrate her at this year’s Women United Brunch!