Karen Beavor is the President and CEO of the Georgia Center for Nonprofits (GCN), where she leads the state’s professional association for the nonprofit sector. Under her leadership, GCN serves over 5,000 organizations annually through training, advisory services, and essential resources, in addition to spearheading GAgives on GivingTuesday – an initiative that has raised more than $241 million for nonprofits statewide. 

Karen is a widely recognized leader in the nonprofit sector, known for her commitment to strengthening communities and advancing nonprofit excellence. Her achievements have earned her numerous honors, including being named one of Georgia Trend’s “100 Most Influential Leaders,” a Georgia Legacy Leader, one of the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s 50 Most Influential Philanthropic Leaders, and a Georgia Trend 40 Under 40 honoree. She has also received the 2026 Award for Leadership in Corporate Citizenship, the Southeastern Association’s Leader of the Year Award, the Martin Luther King Leadership Award for Peace and Justice, and the Harvard Business School Club of Atlanta’s Community Leader Award. A member of the Leadership Atlanta class of 2000, Karen has dedicated her career to empowering communities and driving nonprofit success. 

Prior to her role at GCN, Karen served as executive director of a nonprofit law firm advocating for individuals facing poverty. She has contributed her expertise to numerous boards and advisory groups and currently serves as immediate past chair of the Unemployment Services Trust.