Kristen Hecht joined UNA-USA in 2009 and has been an active member of the National Capital Area chapter (UNA-NCA) ever since. She currently serves as a Director-at-Large on UNA-NCA’s Board of Directors and previously chaired both the Nominating Committee (2021, 2022, 2025) and Membership Committee. From 2022–2024, she represented the Mid-East Region on the National Council of UNA-USA. Her UNA journey has also included serving as a delegate to major international convenings—including the 2025 For World Balance Conference in Havana, Cuba, the 2023 World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA) Conference in Tbilisi, Georgia, and the 2017 61st Commission on the Status of Women at UN Headquarters in New York. Across these leadership roles, Kristen has elevated the voices of UNA members on global stages, expanded the organization’s reach, and fostered collaboration that bridges grassroots action with international dialogue.
Professionally, Kristen brings more than 15 years of social sector experience “in and around” philanthropy, including 7+ years of direct experience holding leadership roles within family foundations. As Program Director at the B.A. Rudolph Foundation (2015–2020), she oversaw recruitment, placement, and partnerships for a $7M foundation dedicated to connecting undergraduate and graduate-level women to careers in public service. She later became Program Director at the multi-generational Longbrake Family Foundation, where she researched and designed leadership development initiatives and cultivated cross-sector partnerships for implementation. She also participated in several communities of practice for those working in philanthropy offered through The National Center for Family Philanthropy, Exponent Philanthropy, and Building Impact Partners’ Advisors Accelerator.
Since 2020, Kristen has launched her own consulting firm, where she provides leadership coaching, workshop facilitation, and consulting services for fellowship programs across the social sector. Her clients have included Columbia University (Social Impact Fellowship, Obama Foundation Scholars Program, and Neurodivergent at Columbia), Georgetown University (Women Faith Leaders Fellowship), Habitat for Humanity International (Humanitarian Shelter and Settlements Practicum Fellowship), Vital Voices’ Bold Movers Fellowship (co-founded by then-First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton and then-Secretary of State Madeleine Albright), and the Human Trafficking Legal Center (Harriet Tubman Fellows Program). Through this work, she has supported more than 500 leaders ages 18 to 70+, in countries around the world, helping them strengthen their leadership skills, expand their networks, and increase their capacity for impact.
Kristen holds a Master of Arts in International Politics from American University and a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from the University of North Texas. She has also completed continuing education training through the Next Level Lab at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education.
Vision Statement:
Kristen's vision for UNA-NCA is a membership that is diverse, inclusive, and engaged. As a member of UNA-NCA’s Board of Directors, Kristen will actively work to ensure UNA-NCA recruits members from all backgrounds, that members are welcomed and informed of the many program activities that UNA-NCA offers, and that members are engaged in the mission of the organization.
