KW is named for MaryJane Kubler and Karl Wirka, partners in work and in life. For more than 25 years, they have been helping advance education and culture in America working in partnership with nonprofit organizations across the country. Their personal approach and in-depth consulting expertise informed by a commitment to transparency and integrity have paved the way to many engagements.
Principal
MaryJane Kubler
In a career that spans a quarter century, MaryJane Kubler has helped many in the nonprofit sector successfully navigate change. From strategic planning and organizational improvement to major fundraising and capital campaign efforts, MaryJane has directed the reengineering, reorganization, and day-to-day operations of organizations large and small.
Prior to consulting, MaryJane served as chief operating officer of the external relations division at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. She served as Dean of Students at the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University and the School of Management at Yale. Her faith in the power and potential of America’s nonprofit sector can be traced to the 1980s, when, working as a planner at the City of Boston and the United Way of Massachusetts Bay, she helped develop programs for Boston’s underprivileged youth and homeless population. Throughout her career, MaryJane has stayed engaged with her community and in causes she supports, such as Action for Boston Community Development, Georgetown University and Planned Parenthood.
Principal
Karl Wirka
With more than 20 years of experience working with nonprofit organizations in the arts, higher education, and human services, Karl Wirka’s expertise and interests lie in strategic planning, vision formation and program development, strategic communications, and financial planning. Over the years, Karl has developed numerous program plans and scenarios, developed fundraising cases and proposals, and facilitated visioning and planning processes for a wide range of clients.
Karl began his career teaching English and Physics in western Kenya. Karl has led communications projects, managed fundraising programs, and planned major initiatives at Harvard and Yale universities. Before consulting, Karl worked as a fundraiser and planner at Harvard Business School.
Consultants of counsel
We pride ourselves on providing exactly the services each client engagement requires. Sometimes, this means bringing in specialists whose skills and experience complement our own. Many are professional colleagues with deep industry experience or trusted experts we know well. Working shoulder to shoulder with the two of us, they are a valuable extension of the team.
Anne Cowie
Anne’s career has encompassed all aspects of philanthropy and institutional advancement, including high-level stewardship, board governance, principal and leadership gifts, gifts of art, and campaign and strategic planning. Her most significant tenure (2002-2017) was at the Museum of Fine Arts and School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA and SMFA), including leadership roles in the MFA’s $500M Campaign, the building of the Art of the Americas Wing, and the renovation of the Linde Family Wing. Anne’s career has spanned a variety of institutions and sectors including Wellesley College, Planned Parenthood, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, National Geographic, and most recently, Harvard Graduate School of Design.
Susan Olsen
Susan is a donor engagement strategist with a 30-year career directing external relations at cultural and educational institutions. Helping guide organizations through defining periods of change, at the Boston Public Library Fund she crafted innovative approaches to elevate the library’s role in meeting educational and community needs. As Harvard University’s director of university and campaign donor engagement during the $9.6B campaign, she supported the president and led university-wide planning to publicly recognize transformative gifts; an annual symposium for global benefactors; a world-wide presidential series; the campaign launch and closing celebrations; and farewell and inaugural programs for two presidents. For a decade, Susan directed development at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum during a vibrant period of philanthropic growth leading to the museum’s centennial.