Let’s make an impact together.

Hello! I am Karen Ball, a nationally recognized community leader with over 30 years of experience shaping Canada’s charitable and cultural sectors. I’ve spent my career at the intersection of nonprofits, arts, and government—most recently as President + CEO of Alberta’s Nonprofit Chamber, where I championed policy and advocacy for Alberta’s 30,000 nonprofits and led a major strategic transformation that strengthened the organization’s impact and financial sustainability.

For more than 12 years, I’ve also had the joy of consulting with incredible organizations helping them align vision with action, build strong plans, policies, and systems, and create meaningful community connections with lasting cultural impact.

learn more about my professional experience

Selected Work for Incredible Clients

  • Night scene of downtown Toronto with illuminated Toronto sign featuring a red maple leaf, people walking, and tall city skyscrapers, including the CN Tower in the background.

    City of Toronto's Festival & Event Policy

    I developed and authored the City of Toronto’s inaugural Festival and Event Policy while working with the City’s Department of Economic Development and Culture. This work was informed by research conducted through the Cultural Policy Hub at OCAD University, in collaboration with departmental staff.

  • A person wearing a cowboy hat standing in front of colorful arcade game machines at a carnival or fair.

    Calgary Stampede SAM Centre Business Model

    Prior to opening in 2024, I provided a facilitated approach to craft the business model for the Calgary Stampede Foundation’s SAM Centre, a community gathering place dedicated to telling the story of the Calgary Stampede. I also created and supported the RFP process for selection of the final exhibition and experience design team.

  • Night view of City of Airdrie government building with illuminated blue lighting, flags, and neatly landscaped bushes in front.

    City of Airdrie Civic Partnership Framework

    I worked in collaboration with select City departments and key community stakeholders to develop a civic partnership framework that clearly defines the shared roles and responsibilities of the City of Airdrie and civil society organizations. The final framework included internal assessments, best-practice research, clearly articulated definitions, business standards, and outcomes and evaluation criteria.

  • A nighttime street scene featuring a performer on stilts dressed in a white flowing gown with illuminated sections, holding large circular propellers with lights, and wearing an ornate headpiece, with colorful lights and tall structures in the background.

    Calgary's Arts & Culture Infrastructure Plan

    I developed a 10-year cultural infrastructure plan for Calgary Arts Development, including a gap analysis, an assessment of existing infrastructure, best-practice research, and strategic recommendations to support the growth and vibrancy of cultural spaces in Calgary.

  • Nighttime view of the Olympic rings illuminated on a tall building, with the moon visible in the dark sky.

    Canada's Hopeful 2026 Winter Olympic Bid

    After serving on the Olympic Bid Exploration Board as Chair of the Public Engagement and Community Impact Committee, I worked with the Calgary 2026 Bid Company to assemble cross-sector partnerships supporting the cultural celebration components of the bid, engaging all orders of government, civil society, and the private sector. I also led community engagement and stakeholder relations during the early phase leading up to the bid plebiscite.

  • Empty street decorated for Christmas with a large, lit Christmas tree at the center and holiday lights on buildings and street lamps.

    Stony Plain Action Agenda for Arts, Culture & Heritage

    Building on the Town’s cultural plan, I developed a five-year action plan in collaboration with stakeholders, including stakeholders from the Paul First Nation, to leverage opportunities that advance culture and quality of life in support of municipal goals. This work included extensive public and stakeholder engagement, a clear assessment of the current state, and a final action agenda with defined timelines and measurable outcomes.

How I Add Value

A woman with short gray hair and a confident smile, wearing a green blazer, black patterned top, black and white dotted pants, and black shoes, standing in a room with wooden walls and blinds on the window.

  • Organizations engage me to bring clarity, structure, and momentum to complex ideas, programs, and initiatives. My strategy and planning support focuses on strengthening governance, aligning operations with long-term sustainability, leveraging partner opportunities, and building pilot programs and policies that can become actionable, fundable directions.

    Work in this area includes:

    • designing sustainability frameworks,

    • shaping governance and operating models,

    • engaging stakeholders and expanding communities,

    • leading and interpreting research, and

    • developing evidence-based recommendations that help organizations move from ambition to implementation with confidence.

  • Organizations engage me to design and lead engagement approaches that build connection, grow participation, and activate communities around shared goals. My work in community building focuses on creating inclusive and compelling in-person, virtual, and digital spaces that bring partners, stakeholders, and the public into meaningful dialogue, co-creation, and celebration—locally, nationally, and internationally.

    Work in this area includes:

    • producing large-scale conferences, events, and festivals;

    • leading engagement and research that uncovers community priorities and positions initiatives for the highest and best impact;

    • developing and executing engagement strategies that mobilize institutions and deepen their connections with communities;

    • securing partnerships, philanthropic and government support; and

    • designing intimate and large-scale participatory programs and events that invite people not just to attend, but to contribute.This work includes:

    • producing large-scale conferences, events and festivals,

    • leading engagement and research that uncovers community desire and positions efforts for highest and best impact,

    • developing and executing engagement strategies that mobilize institutions and deepen their connections,

    • securing partnerships and philanthropic support, and

    • designing intimate and large-scale participatory programs and events that invite people not just to attend, but to contribute.

  • Organizations engage me to help them clarify their voice, align their messages, and engage effectively with decision-makers and the public. My work in storytelling and advocacy focuses on translating complex ideas, values, and impacts into clear, credible narratives that build understanding, influence policy, and support collective action.

    Work in this area includes:

    • designing and delivering advocacy training and master classes that demystify political systems and power structures;

    • leading large-scale public engagement initiatives around complex and high-profile public decisions;

    • developing shared fact bases, key messages, and narrative frameworks that align organizations and sectors;

    • building collaborative platforms and campaigns that enable collective advocacy across institutions and funders; and

    • advising and leading government relations efforts to strengthen influence and outcomes.

  • Black and white logo of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts with a stylized globe and text.
  • Logo for Calgary Stampede featuring text with a stylized 'C' and 'S' in red and black.
  • Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity logo with black and red text
  • Alberta Government logo with the word 'Alberta' in cursive and a small blue square on the right, with the word 'Government' below in standard font.
  • The image features a speech bubble with the text 'Please leave a review.' Below the speech bubble, there is a button labeled 'Write a Review.'
  • Black and white historical photo of two men in military uniforms, one seated with a cap and the other standing behind, with the text "1884 ONWARD 1894" in white and a red line across the bottom.
  • Logo for Calgary Arts Development with the letters 'cad' in red, and the words 'calgary arts development' underneath in gray and red.
  • The University of Oregon logo, featuring a shield with a black bull's head, two crossed weapons, and an open book, on a black background.
  • Orange abstract banner with a white outline of a rectangle and the words "input storytelling in the public interest" in white.
  • Lowes logo with the word 'Network' written in large blue letters.
  • Logo with the text 'Business / Arts' in blue and black.
  • United Way logo with red hand and heart symbol and black text
  • Close-up of the words 'fresh routes' in bold green text on a clear background.
  • Genesis Centre logo with a stylized lotus flower above the text
  • Bar chart with five colored bars labeled with popular social media platforms