As the chief advancement officer at the National Geographic Society, Kara Ramirez Mullins fuels and expands the National Geographic community by inspiring transformational philanthropy and driving strategic partnerships, comprehensive fundraising efforts, and special events for the organization. Under her leadership, the Society launched its first comprehensive campaign, focusing on unparalleled support of the Explorer community and the new National Geographic Museum of Exploration — a premier Washington D.C. destination.

Since arriving at the Society, she has grown the advancement division, spurred a dramatic increase in support from the Board of Trustees, and delivered five record-setting fundraising years — the strongest in the organization’s history. In 2025, she also secured the largest single gift to the Society ever. Mullins advances the Society’s mission through membership strategy, and corporate, foundation and individual giving programs that broaden the Society’s constituent base and generate financial support.

Mullins brings more than 25 years of fundraising and external relations expertise to the Society. Most recently, she spearheaded multimillion-dollar philanthropic and fundraising efforts as the vice president for advancement at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business. In this role, Mullins expanded all endowed and operating funds, launched a $400 million capital campaign, and led five of the most successful fundraising years in the school’s history.

Mullins’ career also includes senior leadership positions with several esteemed Washington, D.C. organizations. She served as associate vice president for institutional advancement at the Brookings Institution, managing and directing annual and major giving efforts and a portfolio of high-level institutional donors for the think tank’s $600 million campaign. She also served as director of development at the Phillips Collection and completed a decade-long tenure in development with the National Gallery of Art, connecting with donors, board members and constituents in their philanthropic support of art and culture.

Mullins earned a bachelor’s degree from Marymount University and completed graduate work at Georgetown University. In June 2018, Mullins graduated from the Executive Program at the Darden School of Business.