Dr. Ann Updegraff Spleth, CFRE
When Ann Updegraff Spleth was five years old, her father, a pastor in Florida, stood her on a table so that she could reach the microphone to make the first pledge for the church’s capital campaign. “I pledge 25 cents a week to build God’s church,” she said. This foreshadowed a varied career of executive leadership in both the faith based and secular not-for-profit worlds. Ann now works with various non profits and religious organizations, providing guidance and counsel in fundraising, conflict management, and planning.
Ann retired in late 2020 from her role as the Chief Operating Officer for the Kiwanis Children's Fund. She provided strategic leadership and managed the Foundation. She was the lead for the successful $110 million campaign, The Eliminate Project, a partnership between Kiwanis and UNICEF to wipe maternal and neonatal tetanus from the earth, which raised US $118 million. She worked to transform the foundation’s mission and effectiveness, bringing the Charity Navigator rating from 0 to the coveted 4-star rating in a little more than four years.
Ann is an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and has served as the Vice President for External Relations for Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis, Indiana. Prior to joining Christian Theological Seminary, she was Director of Major Gift Planning for Goodwill Industries of Central Indiana. Ann has lived in Indianapolis since 1985. She served for many years as President of the Division of Homeland Ministries, the domestic mission arm of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
She holds the B.A. degree from Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky, the Master of Divinity from Vanderbilt Divinity School, and the Doctor of Ministry from The School of Theology in Claremont, California. Ann is married to the Reverend Randall Spleth, retired Senior Minister of Geist Christian Church in Indianapolis and Fishers, Indiana. They have two young adult children: Andrew and Claire.
Ann is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) and has completed the Certificate in Fund Raising Management. She is an adjunct faculty member of The Fund Raising School and the Lake Institute for Faith and Giving at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University. She was named as one of the Indianapolis Business Journal’s 2015 Women of Influence in recognition of her years of effective leadership. She is an in demand speaker, preacher, consultant, workshop leader and conflict management specialist. If you’ve had an organizational crisis or are planning one in the near future, Ann is the person to call.