Kristi Flanagan Villar

Kristi Flanagan Villar is an accomplished executive with more than 25 years of experience spanning philanthropy, marketing, healthcare, higher education, and the foundation sector. She has dedicated her career to advancing transformational initiatives that improve lives, strengthen communities, and expand access to opportunity through the power of philanthropy.

Kristi has extensive leadership experience in comprehensive campaign strategy, grateful patient philanthropy, corporate and foundation relations, and strategic engagement. Most recently, she served as a senior leader on the University of Minnesota's historic $4.4 billion Driven campaign, helping advance one of the largest fundraising efforts in higher education. Notably, during her tenure, she led more than $1B in philanthropic support for the Medicine & Health enterprise. Throughout her career, she has led high-performing and metric-driven teams, secured multiple eight-figure philanthropic investments, and partnered with donors, national corporate partners, professional athletes, volunteers, boards, and institutional leaders to achieve ambitious goals and lasting impact.

Outside of her professional work, Kristi is deeply committed to community service and leadership development. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Aim Higher Foundation, is a former Honorary Chair of the Basilica Block Party, mentors students through the Wayzata Compass Program, and is actively involved in both the Wayzata Public Schools and Benilde-St. Margaret's communities. A proud mother of two teenagers, she is passionate about helping the next generation flourish and creating stronger, healthier communities for all.