In February 2023, Barkley Payne joined the leadership team of Invest in Others. With more than 30 years of experience as a nonprofit leader, he brings a wealth of expertise to his role as its President & CEO. In this capacity, he leads the organization’s operations and drives strategic initiatives to enhance its programs, strengthen fundraising efforts, and elevate marketing and administrative/governance functions. His leadership is instrumental in ensuring the organization’s continued growth and impact.
His extensive experience in healthcare philanthropy has led to leadership roles at several national association foundations. He most recently served as Executive Director of the American Medical Association’s charitable foundation and joined its senior management team in 2014.
For 12 years, he led the American Dental Association Foundation as its Executive Director. He was then Vice President of Strategic Philanthropy for the Orthopedic Research and Education Foundation. A native of Bowling Green, Kentucky. Payne held executive and development positions with Metro Louisville and The Louisville Orchestra.
In November 2021, Payne was presented with the Association Foundation Group (AFG) Leadership Award in recognition of his work in strengthening the national association foundation professional community. He served as AFG president in 2015. He was awarded in 2009 with two honorary fellowships by the American College of Dentists as well as the International Academy of Dental Facial Esthetics, the highest awards given to non-DDS professionals.
Payne is a past president of the Western Kentucky University Alumni Association Board of Directors and currently serves on the Board of Directors for Access to Care, a health care program serving low-income uninsured individuals in suburban Cook County (Illinois). In addition, he is a long-time member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Association Forum of Chicagoland, Chicago Council of Planned Giving, Medical Society Fundraising Network and the Chicago Health Executives Forum.
As a volunteer, he has served on numerous boards including the Dental Philanthropy Network, National Kidney Foundation of Kentucky, Louisville Zoo Foundation and the Association of the Louisville Orchestra.
Payne earned a BA in public relations at Western Kentucky University.