Carolyn Ainslie

Carolyn Ainslie oversees the foundation’s financial planning and management functions—including accounting, financial analysis, investment strategy and processes, risk and assurance, business management, and the Strategic Investment Fund—as well as strategy and planning more generally. In this role, she ensures that the foundation’s resources are allocated wisely, to maximize the impact of our program investments and operations around the world.

Before joining the foundation in 2018, Carolyn worked for 10 years as vice president for finance and treasurer at Princeton University, where she was responsible for the central financial functions of the university and, as a member of the president’s senior staff, served as a key partner on strategic university initiatives. Earlier, she spent 10 years as vice president for planning and budget at Cornell University.

Carolyn has an MBA in finance from the University of Rochester and a bachelor’s degree from Bucknell University.