Bio

Cathy Bradley is an established philanthropy strategist who connects globally-recognized organizations with mission-aligned nonprofits to maximize meaningful, sustainable social impact. Throughout her 25+ year career, Cathy has worked with major sports industry leaders and nonprofits, ensuring the effective investment of more than $40 million to sports, fitness, cultural, and educational programs around the world. 

After six years of professional growth opportunities and relationship building with the Texas Rangers, Baltimore Orioles, and Milwaukee Brewers, Cathy was named the Executive Director of Baseball Tomorrow Fund, a $40 million joint initiative of Major League Baseball (MLB) and the MLB Players Association in 2000. Over the next 19 years, she built the program into a trusted industry resource to fund youth baseball and softball programs and facilities, contributing to the nationally reported increase of nearly 3 million players from 2013 to 2018. Her efforts resulted in the distribution of $37M to over 1,000 projects around the world.

In 2020, Cathy joined Musco Sports Lighting, a global leader in sports, transportation, and infrastructure lighting. She advised the ownership and senior leaders on philanthropic and marketing initiatives, managing relationships with national partners including MLB and the National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA), which subsequently hired her as interim senior director of development to grow corporate and institutional funding and sponsorship. 

From 2022-2024, Cathy oversaw individual and institutional giving as the Vice President of Development and Philanthropy at New York Road Runners, the nonprofit operator of the New York City Marathon. Under her leadership, contributed income increased by 40%, securing $14 million by growing sustainer-level memberships by 30% and the year-end campaign by 200%.

In 2025, Cathy was hired as the Vice President of Grantmaking at Inclusiv, a network of community development credit unions and recipient of $1.87B award from the Biden Administration's Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund's Clean Communities Investment Accelerator program to support clean energy lending in underserved communities.

Cathy is currently a philanthropy consultant, providing grant strategy and fundraising support to clients seeking to expand their national and global reach, including the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation U.S.A. and NRPA. She also introduces nonprofit professionals to corporate and foundation fundraising motivations and mechanisms as an adjunct instructor at the NYU School of Professional Studies Center for Global Affairs.

Cathy is an advocate for historical preservation, Black history, and equitable access to culture and educational opportunities in New York City, serving in leadership positions on the Board of Directors for the Historic House Trust of New York City and the Lewis H. Latimer House Museum in Flushing, Queens and maintaining a sustaining membership with the Public Theater.

Cathy was appointed to the advisory council of Play Global!, a U.S.-based nonprofit that teaches baseball to coaches and youth in developing countries and areas of conflict. She is also a member of the advisory council of Teamup, a Texas-based nonprofit that promotes project-based learning and empowers students to build technology focused on driving positive social change. Additionally, Cathy offers pro bono grant strategy consultation to nonprofits through the Taproot Foundation. 

Building upon her close connections in the sports industry and nonprofit sector, Cathy maintains a broad professional network. She was selected to the U.S.-Japan Foundation‘s leadership program in 2007, a highly competitive, professional exchange program with international professionals from various public and private industries and disciplines. She continues to actively participate in the program as a fellow.

Cathy attended the University of Missouri, earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration. 

In her free time, Cathy is an "advanced-beginner" guitar player, an avid theater-goer, and crocheter. Cathy is a two-time, New York City Marathon finisher and a Chicago Marathon finisher.  

Cathy currently resides in New York City.

September 2025

Complete Bio