Keith DiDonato will join Kenyon as vice president for advancement on Aug. 4, 2025.
Keith DiDonato, chief advancement officer at The Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, will join Kenyon College as vice president for advancement on August 4, 2025.
As vice president, DiDonato will build upon Kenyon’s recently completed record-breaking $532 million comprehensive campaign and lead the continued growth and evolution of the College’s Advancement Division. He will oversee major, principal and planned giving; advancement information services; advancement communications and strategy; alumni and parent engagement; and annual giving, including the Kenyon Fund and Kenyon Parent Fund. Working closely with the president, fellow senior staff, trustees, donors and staff to reinforce Kenyon’s position in an ever-evolving higher education landscape, DiDonato will play an integral role in innovating the College’s efforts to strengthen both alumni and non-alumni engagement and giving, including stewardship of an emerging new generation of alumni joining Kenyon’s highest-level supporters through the Third Century Founders initiative.
“I’m thrilled to have Keith as a strategic and visionary partner in advancing Kenyon’s ambitious third century,” President Julie Kornfeld said. “He’s a gifted leader with a deep commitment to higher education and mission-driven work who can speak with great enthusiasm — and also great humility — about the transformative power of a liberal arts education. I have no doubt that he will be a powerful advocate for the College and our approach to preparing graduates for lives of purpose and consequence.”
With nearly two decades of record-breaking fundraising experience at institutions across Ohio, DiDonato most recently led a goal-surpassing comprehensive campaign at The Ohio State University, raising $347 million for the College of Food, Agriculture, and Environmental Sciences. Throughout his career, DiDonato has been responsible for highly successful capital campaigns and substantially increased donor engagement. He has overseen the rebranding of alumni publications and the creation of reunion and homecoming events.
“I am excited to join the Kenyon College community,” DiDonato said. “This is a pivotal time in higher education and for Kenyon, and I welcome the opportunity to work beside the alumni and donor community in building the foundations for Kenyon's third century.”
DiDonato was recommended by a committee led by trustee Matthew Voorhees ’95 that included trustees, alumni, faculty and staff. The executive search firm Isaacson, Miller helped conduct the national search.
“Keith respects and understands the values of Kenyon and its purpose of delivering a liberal arts education,” Voorhees said. “He will bring bold leadership in championing creative and entrepreneurial fundraising. The work of our committee was made difficult by the well-qualified slate of candidates for this position. After rounds of interviews, Keith was the obvious choice. His integrity, energy, and talent for telling Kenyon’s story will inspire members of our community to engage in and commit to its auspicious fundraising future.”
Prior to joining The Ohio State University, DiDonato held positions of increasing responsibility in the advancement offices at The College of Wooster and Oberlin College and Conservatory. He earned a bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University.
Former Vice President for Advancement Colleen Garland will transition to her new role as a principal gifts officer for the upcoming academic year beginning August 1, 2025.