WHO WE ARE

Cara Pomponio is Interim Executive Director for Cultural Development Corporation (CuDC), which creates opportunities for artists and arts organizations that stimulate economic development and improve the quality of life in the Washington, DC area.

Cara joined CuDC in July of 2007 as Director of External Relations and leads CuDC’s development and communications efforts, which raise over $1million in contributions from individuals, corporations, foundations, government sources and special events, and build awareness of CuDC among its many stakeholder groups.

Prior to joining CuDC, she was the Associate Director of Development/Director of Institutional Relations for Washington Performing Arts Society. Cara previously served as the Program Officer for the Smithsonian Institution’s Corporate Membership Program and also worked at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and Arena Stage.

She received a certificate in Non-Profit Management from the Public Policy Institute at Georgetown University in spring 2010 and in 2004 she was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award from National-Louis University.

Cara serves on the boards of Think Local First DC and Taffety Punk Theatre Company. Over the years she has worked with various organizations including: Critical Exposure, Doorways for Women and Families (board member and chair of the Financial Development Committee); Greater Washington Board of Trade (Cultural Promotion Steering Committee); Suited for Change; Executive Women International; National Italian American Foundation; Washington Center for Photography; Women's Information Network; DC Rape Crisis Center; and St. Mark's Dance Company. She also has served on grants panels for the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities and the Arlington Community Foundation.

A native of McLean, Virginia, Pomponio has a BA in French Literature from Boston College and an MSM from National-Louis University. She lives in Washington, DC.