THE LEAFLET

We at Casey Trees are thrilled to welcome Valerie Fitton-Kane as our new Development Director! Valerie brings a wealth of experience and passion for environmental stewardship, and we’re excited about the impact she’ll have in growing our mission. As we continue working to restore, enhance, and protect DC’s tree canopy, strong leadership in development is essential—so we couldn’t be more excited to have her on board. We invite you to get to know Valerie, her background, and what inspires her to join the Casey Trees team.

Casey Trees (CT): Welcome to Casey Trees! Tell us, who is Valerie Fitton-Kane?

I am a DC resident who has been a non-profit leader and professional fundraiser for over 20 years. I have two young children, a husband I’ve known since high school, and a lovable pit bull named Cookie. Throughout my personal and professional journey, I’ve grown to love trees for their beauty, for their intelligence and resilience, and for their incredible ability to combat the effects of climate change.

CT: How did you get drawn into the work in the urban forestry and/or environmental nonprofit field?

I’ve always been a nature lover. Growing up in Florida, I spent my childhood exploring creeks, observing wildlife from snakes to manatees, and running through parks filled with oaks and Spanish moss. Though my career initially led me to other non-profit causes, these early experiences formed my strong interest in the environment.

Reading Richard Powers’ The Overstory transformed my relationship with trees and sparked deeper curiosity. I followed this with other influential books and a course in Forest Management. This renewed passion led me to volunteer with Rock Creek Conservancy and start a youth organization focused on climate action.

CT: What drew you to Casey Trees?

I’ve long admired Casey Trees, having personally benefited from their work pruning cherry trees in my yard, planting trees in my local park, and engaging my daughter’s class through their School Tree Planting program. When I decided to pursue a new position in an environmental organization, the timing of Casey Trees’ Director of Development posting seemed perfect. It was a no-brainer to apply! Casey Trees’ commitment to expanding DC’s tree canopy while educating the community aligns perfectly with both my professional skills and personal passion.

CT: Fundraising for urban forestry can sometimes be a challenge. What strategies do you see as key to sustaining and expanding Casey Trees’ impact? 

Casey Trees enjoys strong brand recognition in DC despite being a relatively small, local organization. People know us from planting trees with us, seeing young trees with Casey Trees tags around town, and our popular education programs. I see our biggest opportunity in deepening relationships with the individuals we serve throughout the District.

As a DC resident, I’m concerned about the current challenges facing our city – from federal job insecurity to threats to Home Rule and our local economy. Additionally, Casey Trees has over $9 million in federal funding for regional tree planting that’s currently paused and at risk of cancellation. This comes at a critical time when our city – especially Wards 5, 7, and 8 – faces increasing threats from extreme heat and flooding. Despite these challenges, I remain optimistic about our ability to diversify funding and maintain our essential tree planting and climate resilience work.

CT: What are you most excited to work on or introduce to Casey Trees?

As Casey Trees’ first Director of Development, I’m building on the foundation of our endowment, which funds many of our baseline operations but isn’t sufficient to fully achieve our mission. We must accelerate our tree planting and maintenance efforts, especially in areas most vulnerable to heat and erosion. My goal is to create a sustainable development program engaging supporters at all levels—from first-time volunteers to major philanthropists—who share our vision for a greener DC.

CT: Is there anything else you’d like our audience to know about you?

I’m most interested in knowing about our audience! What are you concerned about? What questions do you have about our cause? What ideas do you have for growing and maintaining our tree canopy? Ask me anything at vfittonkane@caseytrees.org. And if you’re passionate about trees in DC, I’d love to meet for coffee to discuss how you can get involved!