Julie Wukelic

Julie Wukelic, MBA, is the Chief Executive Officer of **Believe in Me – Foundation for Kids**, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering marginalized youth and strengthening communities across the Pacific Northwest. She brings more than a decade of experience in nonprofit leadership, strategic planning, fund development, and community partnership building, combining entrepreneurial thinking with mission-driven execution.

A Washington State University graduate with degrees in Finance and an MBA from the Carson College of Business, Julie leads with both analytical rigor and lived empathy. As a survivor of domestic violence and a mother who completed her education while raising three children, she understands firsthand the barriers many families face. That experience fuels her commitment to expanding opportunity and building systems that help young people thrive.

Under her leadership, Believe in Me advances initiatives centered on education, basic human needs, enrichment programs, and wraparound support services. Julie focuses on sustainable growth, measurable impact, and collaborative partnerships with businesses, schools, and community leaders to ensure resources translate into real outcomes for youth.

She is also the visionary behind innovative programs that bridge philanthropy, higher education, and community engagement, including Cougs 4 Kids. Known for her ability to unite corporate partners, civic leaders, and nonprofit stakeholders around shared goals, Julie works to create scalable solutions that advance equity and long-term success.

Julie believes that strong communities are built when business and nonprofit leaders work together to invest in the next generation. Through her leadership, strategic vision, and collaborative spirit, she continues to champion opportunity, resilience, and measurable impact for children and families.