Featuring Karen Kallenberg - Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of Colorado
Karen Kallenberg leads Habitat for Humanity of Colorado as its Executive Director. She’s dedicated to ensuring safe, affordable housing for hardworking families across the state. Her leadership focuses on community resilience, housing stability, and forging public-private partnerships to combat Colorado’s housing crisis.
Before leading Habitat Colorado, Karen spent a decade at Habitat for Humanity International. There, she developed campus chapter programs, provided training and consulting to affiliates nationwide, coordinated the 2003 Jimmy Carter Work Project, organized the 2008 Home Builders’ Blitz, and led five Global Village home-building trips abroad. She holds a B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Master's in Nonprofit Management from Regis University, where she was inducted into the prestigious Alpha Sigma Nu honor society.
As Executive Director, Karen has championed data-driven and community-focused programming. In 2018, she spearheaded an impact study showing that 94% of Habitat homeowners experienced improved lives, from better health to educational gains, after achieving homeownership.Her leadership centers on empowering affiliates through training, financing, technical support, and advocacy Under her guidance, Habitat Colorado now supports 23 local affiliates in 45 communities statewide.
Karen is a powerful voice in public policy. In 2019, she testified before the Colorado House Finance Committee in support of HB19‑1228, increasing affordable housing tax credits. She’s also publicly advocated for emergency mortgage assistance during COVID‑19, securing $50,000 in grants and helping raise over $200,000 to support struggling homeowners.
Karen’s influence spans from grassroots advocacy to statewide policy. She’s guided Habitat Colorado in recognizing leaders like Shannon Bird, Don Coram, Julie McCluskie, Naquetta Ricks, Dylan Roberts, and Mary Bradfield for their legislative efforts supporting affordable housing. She helped launch bilingual initiatives, such as a home energy–savings guide, partnering with Energy Outreach Colorado and Civitas to support households across diverse communities.
Karen Kallenberg’s vision continues to shape a Colorado where stable, affordable housing fuels stronger, healthier, more equitable communities, proving that a home is a foundation, a launching pad, and a source of hope.