Alliance Names Kate Watt Chief Development Officer

Key Takeaways

• The Colorectal Cancer Alliance has named Kate Watt, a nonprofit development executive with more than 20 years of experience, as Chief Development Officer.
• Watt’s extensive experience in building fundraising strategies and teams will help advance the Alliance's mission to end the disease.
• To donate or get involved with the Alliance, visit colorectalcancer.org 

WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 6, 2024) — The Colorectal Cancer Alliance (Alliance), the nation's leading nonprofit dedicated to ending colorectal cancer, today announced the appointment of Kate Watt as Chief Development Officer. Watt joins the Alliance with more than 20 years of experience helping mission-driven organizations grow revenue, deepen donor relationships and build high-performing teams.

"Colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer death in people under 50, and we’ve had enough - the urgency of our mission demands a development leader who can scale what's working and open new doors," said Michael Sapienza, CEO of the Colorectal Cancer Alliance. "Kate has the skills to turn ambitious ideas into results and accelerate our work to end this disease."

Watt most recently served as Senior Vice President of Community Development at Susan G. Komen. There she led a national fundraising portfolio and a team of more than 140 development professionals across major and planned giving, mid-level giving, foundations, peer-to-peer fundraising, signature events and community fundraising.

As Chief Development Officer, Watt will lead the Alliance's fundraising strategy to advance its key areas of:

• Innovation: expanding philanthropic investment in research and in initiatives that bring the Alliance closer to a cure, such as Project Cure CRC and the first-of-its-kind adaptive clinical trial platform for CRC, KLEOS.
• Support: growing the resources behind the Alliance's patient and family programs, such as its live helpline at 877-422-2030, screening education at getscreened.org and clinical trial support, so no one facing the disease has to navigate it alone.
• Awareness and Advocacy: strengthening the Alliance's awareness and policy work to drive measurable change through initiatives like LEAD FROM BEHIND and increased government funding.
• Community: mobilizing the Alliance's nationwide community of survivors, families, caregivers and supporters to build on critical fundraising efforts, such as the Walk to End Colon Cancer and End Colon Cancer Coast to Coast.

"The Alliance is doing some of the most innovative and urgent work in cancer today, and I'm honored to join this team," said Watt. "The vision, the programs and the community to change the future of this disease are in place. My focus will be on maximizing fundraising to fuel that change."

During nine years with Komen, Watt held several leadership roles. As Regional Vice President and Executive Director for Komen Florida, she helped lead the transition to a unified statewide affiliate. Before Komen, she served as Chief Development Officer for the Urban League of Palm Beach County. She is a longtime member of the Junior League, where she previously chaired the State Public Affairs Committee. Watt holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Central Florida.

To donate or get involved with the Alliance, visit colorectalcancer.org. 

About The Colorectal Cancer Alliance
The Colorectal Cancer Alliance is the leading patient advocacy organization dedicated to ending colon and rectal cancers. The Alliance helps people facing the disease today, while innovating toward a future where fewer people are diagnosed and more lives are saved. Founded in 1999 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., the Alliance invests in innovation, supports patients and families, champions awareness and advocacy, and builds community to ensure no one faces this disease alone. For more information, visit colorectalcancer.org or call the helpline at (877) 422-2030. Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube and TikTok.

Media Contact:
Emily Blasi
eblasi@ccalliance.org
(202) 971-9964