The Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis is proud to welcome Anne-Carolyn Bird, Director of Development, and April Golatt, Major Gifts Officer, to the Foundation’s growing team.

Both women bring extensive experience in fundraising, relationship-building, and community impact that will help strengthen WFGM’s mission to advance social and economic mobility for women and families across Memphis.

Anne-Carolyn Bird, Director of Development

Anne-Carolyn Bird joins the Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis after years of fundraising leadership for performing arts organizations in Memphis and Washington, D.C., including Collage Dance Collective, Ballet Memphis, and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. She brings a love of systems and data paired with a passion for connecting people with meaningful opportunities to make an impact.

Before transitioning into nonprofit development, Anne-Carolyn enjoyed an accomplished career as a professional opera singer, performing with regional opera companies around the world, including Nashville Opera, Opera Hong Kong, Washington National Opera, and Arizona Opera. She was widely recognized for her interpretations of classical soprano roles such as Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro and Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor. For 10 years, she also appeared on the roster of the Metropolitan Opera in New York, performing alongside some of the greatest opera singers of our time.

Anne-Carolyn lives in Bartlett with her husband, Matthew Burns, professor of music at the University of Memphis, and their two children, Henry and Gloria.

 

---

April Golatt, Major Gifts Officer

April Golatt is a development professional specializing in data-driven fundraising, donor research, and philanthropic engagement. She earned a Master of Science in Economic Development from Murray State University and a Bachelor of Arts in International Development from the University of Tennessee at Martin.

Her career spans nonprofit development, public sector planning, and community economic development, with previous roles at Rhodes College, Planned Parenthood, the City of West Memphis, and other mission-focused organizations. April combines donor stewardship with data-informed outreach to help drive meaningful philanthropic impact.

Outside of her professional work, April is a proud mother of three “little Golattians” and enjoys traveling. She is also a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, where she serves as the Tennessee Social Action Coordinator.