Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Lewis.
Hi Katie, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in Cutler Bay — back when it was still called Cutler Ridge — and attended the Ridge schools. I’m a local. My parents divorced when I was young, and I spent most of my time with my mother. Neither parent had much financially, so I started working in high school and was living on my own by 18.
I had always dreamed of attending the University of Miami, and I got in. But just as I was starting college, my mother was involved in a serious accident and needed care. I stepped away from school to be there for her, and when I returned, I did so as a University employee — which allowed me to live independently and eventually finish my undergraduate degree in 2015.
During those years, I worked in the fundraising office at Sylvester Cancer Center, ultimately rising to Associate Director. After a decade with the University, I joined HistoryMiami Museum, where I built the institution’s donor base while completing my master’s degree. From there, I moved to United Way, where I found lifelong friends and a community of passionate donors.
In 2022, I took on my current role leading the Burger King Foundation. Since joining, I’ve gotten married, welcomed two children, doubled the Foundation’s fundraising totals, and significantly grown franchisee participation.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has not always been a smooth road. My mother struggled with addiction, and I grew up quickly — largely on my own. Along the way, I made mistakes, including stepping away from school longer than I should have. And I heard “no” more times than I can count.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I lead the Burger King Foundation, which focuses on two flagship programs: scholarships and school supplies. My job is really about connecting people — franchisees, crew members, donors, corporate partners — around a shared belief that education changes lives.
What I specialize in is building and scaling fundraising programs. I’ve done that across several institutions now — the University of Miami’s Sylvester Cancer Center, HistoryMiami Museum, United Way, and now the Foundation — and each one taught me something different about how to grow a donor base and sustain it.
What I’m most proud of is what we’ve built at the Foundation since 2022. We’ve doubled fundraising and significantly grown participation. But the numbers are really just the surface — behind them are students who got to go to college, and kids who showed up to the first day of school with everything they needed. That’s what keeps me going.
And what sets me apart — I think it’s that I don’t come from a straight-line path or a place of privilege. I worked my way through school, supported myself early, and heard “no” a lot before things came together. That experience makes me a more resourceful leader and, honestly, a more genuine advocate for the people we serve.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
The credit belongs to far too many people to name. To everyone who has offered advice, provided guidance, cheered me on, listened when I needed to be heard, or simply been a shoulder to lean on — thank you. You know who you are.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://burgerkingfoundation.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/burgerkingfoundation?igsh=MWR2aG1vcXNwYnI1eg==
