Jennifer L. Keyes

An internship in her university’s advancement department unexpectedly gave Jenn Keyes her life’s calling. Drawn to the stories of why people chose to give, the journalism undergrad saw an opportunity to not just tell those stories, but help turn the dreams behind them into reality.

As Senior Associate Vice President for Development at Ohio State, Jenn provides strategic leadership on academic fundraising, prospect development, campaign operations and data strategy. 

By focusing on why Ohio State alumni, supporters, and grateful patients give, Jenn is able to strengthen connections between donors and the university. Her accomplishments include helping develop Ohio State’s Continuum Model to deepen donor understanding, launching a cohort-based leadership annual giving program that strengthens both fundraising performance and talent pipelines, and creating the university’s Engagement Center to elevate service and connection with alumni and friends.

She builds on her previous role as the university’s Associate Vice President for Advancement, where Jenn served on the leadership teams of both External Affairs and the Alumni Association. In that position, Jenn had oversight of operations including business intelligence, data science, advancement marketing and communications, the engagement center, and prospect development. 

Prior to coming to Ohio State in 2013, Jenn was the Director of Annual Giving for Catholic Charities in Washington, DC, and spent 6 years at the University of Florida, the last three as Director of the Florida Fund. She began her advancement career at West Virginia University, where she graduated with a degree in journalism and public relations.

Jenn and her husband, Kevin, raise their three boys in Hilliard, Ohio. A native of Youngstown, Ohio she is deeply committed to advancing Ohio State’s mission by connecting philanthropy with purpose—helping turn bold ideas into lasting impact for communities across Ohio and beyond.