Kristie Patton Foster is a nonprofit executive with more than two decades of leadership experience spanning donor cultivation, board governance, operations and strategic planning.

Prior to joining Dallas Black Dance Theatre, she provided executive leadership support to The Black Women's Agenda, Inc., advancing strategic priorities and organizational effectiveness for the national civic and advocacy organization. She previously served as Executive Director of The Links, Incorporated and The Links Foundation, Incorporated, one of the nation's most prominent organizations for Black women focused on service, education and civic engagement.

Earlier in her career, Foster served as Area Development Director for the United Negro College Fund and Director of Community Relations and Corporate Development for the VHA Health Foundation in Irving, Texas. Throughout her career, she has spearheaded record-breaking fundraising campaigns, overseen capital projects and managed multi-million-dollar organizational budgets with a consistent focus on long-term organizational sustainability.