Karyn Cooks is a nonprofit strategist and social impact leader with experience across healthcare, conservation, and innovation. She has worked with the American Heart Association, Desert AIDS Project, Cancer Partners, the David Lynch Foundation, and The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens among others.

She enjoys building bridges between nonprofit, corporate, and entertainment sectors—collaborating with organizations and artists across disciplines, from e-commerce ventures to cause-marketing campaigns. She proudly founded a women’s health e-commerce platform following earlier chapters building a record label, producing live theater, and working in news. She also developed early employee advocacy programs that became precursors to today’s corporate social responsibility frameworks.

Karyn was inspired to work with DontMindMe.org after hearing founder Mädchen Amick’s story, which echoed those of friends whose families faced the same impossible choices and lack of options during a mental-health crisis. That shared truth deepened her commitment to building systems rooted in compassion, access, and belonging.

She holds a Master’s in Nonprofit Leadership and Management from Arizona State University, with additional training in Adaptive Leadership and mediation. An early adopter of AI for social good, Karyn is passionate about using technology to reimagine the future of philanthropy.