Kim Covington

Kim Covington is Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at the Arizona Community Foundation (ACF), where she leads statewide efforts to build and strengthen relationships with corporations, foundations, government agencies, nonprofits, and community leaders. In this role, she mobilizes philanthropic investments and advances cross-sector collaborations to address Arizona’s most pressing systemic challenges, including education, affordable housing, environmental resilience, and economic opportunity.

Previously, Covington served as ACF’s Vice President of Community Initiatives, where she led the growth and national recognition of the foundation’s 10 Giving Circles. Under her leadership, these community-led philanthropic initiatives became models for inclusive, trust-based philanthropy that centers the voices and priorities of underrepresented communities.

Before transitioning to philanthropy, Covington spent more than 30 years in television journalism. As a News Anchor and School Solutions Reporter at KPNX 12 News in Phoenix, she became a trusted voice on education and community issues, amplifying stories often overlooked by mainstream media. Her journalism career also included reporting roles in Springfield, Missouri; Grand Rapids, Michigan; and her hometown of St. Louis, Missouri—always grounded in community-centered storytelling.

Covington’s leadership and impact have been recognized with numerous honors, including four Emmy Awards, the 2025 Arizona American Indian Excellence in Leadership “Friend of Community” Award, the 2025 Arizona Cardinals Community Spotlight Award, the 2024 National Coalition of 100 Black Women Partnership Award, the 2023 Arizona Commission of African American Affairs “Unsung Hero” Founders Award, the 2022 NAACP Civic Engagement Award, the MLK Living the Dream Award, and Valle del Sol’s Mom of the Year recognition.

She currently serves on the United Philanthropy Forum Board of Directors, the WESTMARC (Western Maricopa Coalition) Board of Directors, and the Arizona Cardinals Foundation Advisory Board, and lends her leadership and insight to several additional boards and advisory councils, including the Cronkite Endowment Board of Trustees, Clearinghouse CDFI Arizona Advisory Board,  Pakis Family Foundation, and the Lippincott Family Foundation. Covington is also a member of the International Women’s Forum, The Links, Incorporated (Phoenix Chapter), and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.

A graduate of the University of Missouri–Columbia School of Journalism, Covington is deeply committed to community leadership and family. She is the proud wife of Derrick and mother of two college-age children who continue to inspire her work. Jordan is currently studying Material Science Engineering at University of Arizona and Camille, Marine Biology at University of Hawaii-Manoa.