Acey is a highly respected activist, best known for her expertise and commitment to LGBTQ and social justice feminist philanthropy. Her creative and inclusive vision of movements has been instrumental in setting a standard for a more progressive, diverse, and community-based definition of philanthropy.

In 1987, after serving on Astraea’s Board of Directors for four years, Katherine was hired as its first Executive Director. Under her stewardship, Astraea evolved from a volunteer organization with $30,000 budget, giving out $20,000 in grants, to a multi-million dollar public foundation with a staff of 18, a national board, and a global advisory committee. Astraea established the nation’s first Lesbian Writers  and Lesbian Visual Artists Funds, created the International Fund for Sexual Minorities in 1996—the only fund of its kind—and launched the US Movement Building Initiative in 2005 to support the leadership and vision of people of color LGBTQ organizations.  In 2017 Astraea established the Social Justice Feminist Award in Acey’s name to honor movement elders.

Acey was named Senior Activist Fellow Emerita at Barnard Center for Research On Women where she was a fellow in 2015 and 2016.  From 2012 to 2020 she served as the Executive Director and subsequently as  the Director of Strategic Collaborations at GRIOT Circle, an organization dedicated to LGBTQ+ elders of colors based in Brooklyn, N.Y

Acey believes many things, including that each day we must fight in small and big ways for justice. Acey believes in hope. Acey believes that change is damn difficult and also very possible. Acey believes that we must strive to be kinder than necessary and that joy is an act of resistance in the hardest of times. And, if it weren’t for a wonderful multi-generational community of loving friends and blood family, she would not be able to get up in the morning. 

Strong coffee also helps a lot.