Tracy Kerwin drives high-performing fundraising as new SURF Foundation director

Tracy Kerwin has spent a great deal of her career giving back. 

Her first job out of college was with the United Way in Iowa, where she quickly rose through the ranks, landing herself in Florida during a rather tumultuous hurricane season. 

“United Way branches across the state were activated, along with the Red Cross and the Salvation Army, to go out and deliver aid immediately where it was needed. So that was a very solid early-career learning experience and a privilege to be a part of the recovery efforts,” Kerwin said. 

Later, after finding success in financial industry marketing, she transitioned into frontline fundraising for the American Cancer Society, where she developed her expertise in philanthropy and volunteer engagement. She went on to support and advance fundraising efforts at Cleveland Clinic, Martin Health Foundation, and The Wertheim UF Scripps Institute at the University of Florida. 

“I think one of the best and most rewarding parts of my job is seeing philanthropic gifts in action. To be able to bring a donor’s vision to life in a way that makes an actual difference for them and for the world,” Kerwin said. 

World-class science underway at SURF has a proven track record of attracting world-class philanthropy. In leading the SURF Foundation, Kerwin will employ high-performing fundraising strategies that engage donors with compelling narratives, demonstrated impact, and strong stewardship. 

“When you're working for an organization like the United Way, or the American Cancer Society, a hospital, or a research institution like SURF, it’s about creating relationships with those who find meaning and value in the mission and vision,” Kerwin said. 

In this golden age of science, SURF's mission is vital. The future holds exciting opportunities–from pushing quantum capabilities into new territory to particle physics experiments that could revolutionize our understanding of the universe. Pioneering biology research is generating advancements in medicine, carbon capture, and astrobiology, alongside the potential for game-changing geothermal energy. Beyond the experiments themselves, SURF is also focused on building the scientific community necessary to foster these breakthroughs with multiple programs led by the Institute for Underground Science at SURF. 

“The sheer ingenuity of the engineering team and the science teams who work behind the scenes every single day to make this facility run safely while enabling potentially world-changing scientific discoveries—it’s all really awe-inspiring and amazing how many really brilliant people are amassed here at SURF making this happen.” 

With research that will last well into this century, the brilliant people who will lead SURF tomorrow are kids in kindergarten today. This is why half the organization’s mission is focused on education with initiatives that range from the Davis-Bahcall Scholars Program to unique STEM teacher training fellowships. 

“I think people who are deeply curious about science often have a passion for seeing STEM education take root and be very strong in the United States,” Kerwin said. “Our world is getting more and more complex every single day, and we need the best and the brightest minds out there solving those problems for us.”

At SURF, inspiring those future minds to become world-class problem solvers is, in large part, privately funded—Kerwin is enthusiastic about the possibilities.   

“My big charge is to help bring this message and garner national and eventually international resources for SURF and The Institute,” she said. “I've also come to realize there are still a lot of untapped resources locally in the state of South Dakota, in the Black Hills in particular.”

For Kerwin, the momentum building behind SURF’s ongoing and future experiments translates directly into opportunity. As America’s Underground Lab, SURF is home to some of the most consequential science on the planet. Kerwin's job is to help make sure the world — and its philanthropists — know it.

As the philanthropic arm of SURF, the Foundation builds strong relationships around the globe and opens doors for public and corporate contributions to support SURF’s mission to inspire learning and advance world-class science.