Julie Gehrki, a member of the Rhodes Class of 2002, has been named president of the Walmart Foundation and promoted to senior vice president of philanthropy at Walmart.
For the past several years, Gehrki has served as vice president of philanthropy at Walmart and chief operating officer of the Walmart Foundation. In fiscal year 2024, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation gave more than $1.7 billion in grants, food, and product donations globally.
According to the organization’s news release: In more than 15 years at the company, Gehrki has shaped transformative strategic giving programs at the Walmart Foundation and served as a trusted advisor to the business on initiatives that create shared value for associates, customers, investors and communities. She has helped bring the unique strengths of the business and philanthropy together to achieve greater impact and help people live better every day.
Gehrki returned to her alma mater in May 2024 to deliver the Baccalaureate Convocation address, encouraging the next generation of Rhodes graduates to make a difference in their communities and the world. The Arkadelphia, AR, native has been engaged in community service since enrolling at Rhodes in 1998. In addition to participating in Rhodes’ Servant Leadership, Kinney, and Micah 6 programs, she led a project teaching nonviolence education to children living in and around Memphis public housing and organized a conference of the National Student Campaign Against Hunger. As a result of her work, Gehrki was presented The Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award, bestowed annually to two graduating seniors who have given selflessly to others and the college.
After receiving a bachelor’s degree in religious studies in 2002 from Rhodes, Gehrki was one of six individuals selected nationally to serve as a Jane Addams Andrew Carnegie Fellow at Indiana University’s Center on Philanthropy. After completing the fellowship, she worked for the General Commission on Religion and Race, a nonprofit located in Washington, D.C., and volunteered for Learn Enterprises, teaching English to students in Hungary and Slovakia.
Gehrki started as a manager at the Walmart Foundation in 2008, and in her new roles, will continue to be a champion addressing some of the economic, environmental, and social challenges faced in the world today.