Discovery Day is an Impact Austin tradition and Signature Event. Held each winter as the grant cycle begins, Impact Austin cultivates an ever-changing array of content related to community issues, D.E.I.B., new approaches in philanthropy, or best practices in grantmaking. Our 2025 event is coming up soon, and registration closes on January 23 at 5:00 PM. You'll find 9 great reasons to attend in an earlier blog article.
Discovery Day 2025 features a keynote presentation, facilitated table discussions, and a panel of Impact Austin members who are also affiliated with nonprofit organizations. Their perspectives are meant to more closely connect Impact Austin members to nonprofits' stories and how our grants - especially unrestricted funding - can benefit them.
Meet our 2025 speakers and panelists here!
Keynote Address
Sierra Randall
Partner, Development Strategy
Sierra Randall is a dedicated educator, researcher, and fundraising professional. Recognizing the power of community engagement from an early age, she completed her first grant project at the age of 16 after securing $50,000 from the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs to oversee the creation of a website for her small hometown in Nebraska. Specializing in Applied Sociology, she graduated with a bachelor's degree from Bard College at Simon's Rock in 2013.
Sierra previously worked with various educational, social advocacy, and affordable housing organizations. From 2015-2022, she served with Foundation Communities in program, data, grants, and development roles. Sierra was Director of Development with Jeremiah Program Austin from 2022-2024, and she joined Insights4Equity in late 2023.
As Partner at Insights4Equity, Sierra brings skills in operations, development strategy, business strategy, data analysis, and change management. As a community leader, she is Secretary with Sunrise Homeless Navigation Center. She is also a Director with The New Philanthropists. Learn more about Sierra here.
Panel Presentation
Moderator
Ami Kane, Impact Austin Member
Executive Director
Ami Kane is from the Indianapolis area, where her passion for girl services began. Her commitment to girls was further inspired by over four years of work with Girls Incorporated of Greater Indianapolis. After arriving in Austin in late 2009, Ami worked briefly with Foundation Communities before going back to her girl service roots with Girls Empowerment Network in 2010. After working in Development and serving as Deputy Director, Ami became Executive Director one year ago.
Ami joined Impact Austin in 2015 and volunteered for several years as leader for Girls Giving Grants. She now serves on Impact Austin's Board of Directors and Advancement Committee. Ami is a Certified Fund Raising Executive and a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Greater Austin Chapter, whose Philanthropy Day event she will co-lead in the spring.Â
Ami received her Bachelor's Degree from Butler University and her M.P.A. in Nonprofit Management from Indiana University. Read more about Ami Kane here.
Panelist
Kalà Rourke, Impact Austin Member
Community Leader and Founding Board President
Kalà Rourke has lent time and energy to public service, mentoring, and philanthropy since retiring from her career as a mortgage banker and title escrow officer in 1989. Kalà served as Founding Board President of Seedling Foundation from 2005-2012. She helped develop a research and metrics guided, school based mentoring program for children who deal with parental incarceration. and as a Board Member and Officer from 2012-2017. Kalà served next on their Advisory Council from 2018-2024.
Kalà has been an active member of Impact Austin since joining in 2005 and has served on the Board as well. This year she is on the Philanos Board of Directors to facilitate a PowerUp Conference co-hosted with Impact Austin in 2026. She has also been a member of the Austin Community Foundation Women’s Fund since 2018 and is an active member of the AGE of Central Texas SheTHRIVES event committee.
Kalà was a finalist for the 2017 and 2018 Austin Under-40 Mentor of the Year award and was named one of Austin's Fab Five - Champions for Children in 2016. She is a graduate of the Leadership Austin Class of 2007. Read more about Kalà here.
Panelist
Brittany Sharkey, Impact Austin Member
Executive Director
Brittany Sharkey has been Executive Director of the Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners since 2021, having served first as their General Counsel. Brittany worked as an Associate Attorney with private law firms before becoming General Counsel to the Texas Senate during 2017-2019.
Brittany received her Bachelor's Degree from New York University and her Juris Doctor from the University of Mississippi. She completed the Governor's Executive Development Program at the LBJ School of Public Affairs in 2023.
Brittany is a past president of both the Young Women's Alliance and Austin Symphony Orchestra BATS. She was appointed to serve as a Commissioner on the City of Austin's Ethics Review Commission in 2024. She additionally serves as a board member of Austin Young Chamber and as a member of both Impact Austin and the Ballet Austin Guild. Read more about Brittany here.
Panelist
Marissa Yates, Impact Austin Member
Social Media Strategist
Marissa Yates wrote, "At the core of everything I do is the drive to create a better world, where people can tell their stories and stand in their power."
Marissa is a social media strategist for Consumer Reports, working in the Consumer Impact division, which lobbies for pro-consumer legislation and corporate commitments. Throughout her career, she has worked with local and international nonprofits in Seattle, New York, and Austin, focusing on initiatives that empower children and their families who have found refuge in America or are overcoming challenges like homelessness and human trafficking.
In addition to her nonprofit work, Marissa is a portrait photographer helping women embrace their authenticity and show up confidently—whether it’s for their brand, business, or just for themselves. Marissa is a graduate of Seton Hall University with a Bachelor of Science Degree.
Learn more about Marissa here.
We look forward to hearing from these brilliant women and to joining YOU at Discovery Day! Register and bring a friend or colleague who might like to know more
about Impact Austin and our community impact.
Save the date for our next Signature Event on June 9: Annual Meeting!
