Kate Bunting is a lifelong advocate and leader in international development policy, with a skill set that sits at the nexus between strategy, advocacy, communications, and outreach. Kate’s has a 30-year career dedicated to mobilizing action against global poverty whether driving policy change from the NGO perspective or marshalling public support for global initiatives. As the CEO of Indigo Advisors, Kate brings her extensive experience to help organizations navigate complex global issues and drive impactful change.
From 2014 to 2020, Kate served as the CEO of HelpAge USA, where she championed the rights and inclusion of older people in humanitarian and development programs worldwide. Her leadership not only raised awareness of aging issues but also highlighted the unique vulnerabilities faced by older women, drawing attention to the gender disparities that persist throughout their lives. Under Kate’s leadership, HelpAge USA diversified its donor base, raising awareness in the U.S. about the challenges of global aging. Her efforts resulted in numerous awards, some groundbreaking research on gender-based violence in older populations, and a significant expansion of the inclusion of older persons into global humanitarian and development programming.
Prior to her work with HelpAge, Kate held a senior leadership position at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) as the Deputy Assistant Administrator for Public Affairs and Director of Stakeholder Outreach. In this capacity, she played a pivotal role in engaging stakeholders and building support for Presidential initiatives on food security, global health, and humanitarian response.
As the Managing Director at the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, Kate led efforts to broaden a bipartisan network of businesses, NGOs, and foreign policy experts advocating for U.S. international engagement. Her tenure at CARE USA spanned 17 years, during which she directed legislative and policy efforts focused on global health and U.S. foreign assistance. Kate's innovative approaches led to the creation of CARE’s Action Network, a volunteer advocacy network that supports CARE’s policy goals, and the CARE Learning Tours, an educational initiative for members of Congress to better understand global development issues.
Kate holds an M.A. in International Affairs from American University. She is also an alumna and enthusiastic supporter of Clemson University, where she earned degrees in Political Science and Spanish. Outside of her professional achievements, Kate has a passion for teaching swimming. She dedicates her teaching time to helping adults who lacked access to swimming lessons during their formative years and to helping children with special needs.