Cay Communications, LLC supports nonprofit organizations striving to expand on all fronts--increasing the level of donations, grants, volunteer manpower, and community, visibility vital to a powerfully delivered mission. A team of seasoned grant writers, supported by prospect researchers continually identifying new funding sources, can manage and grow grant revenues, allowing your development team
to focus fully on events, individual giving, and more. We provide strong fundraising and public relations strategies, as well as creative digital, social, and print media campaigns to position your organization for success in a very competitive world of nonprofit marketing and fund development. We can guide you through the process from
the first brainstorm to the first board meeting. A community affairs and foundation executive with extensive experience in leading corporate and nonprofit foundations emphasizing human services, animal welfare, youth development, the disabilities community, and pediatric healthcare. She has expansive expertise in grant writing, fundraising strategy, special events, public and media relations, community affairs, and corporate relations. Carolyn has consistently exceeded goals and objectives in progressively challenging leadership positions. She was on the inaugural team responsible for the establishment and launch of innovative philanthropy for the pacesetting healthcare internet company WebMD at the dawn of the Internet; she led a corporate foundation that completed its mission and was adopted as a national model for Medicaid expansion for low-income children, serving on multiple planning committees of the Georgia Health Policy Center for the Georgia CHIP state-led program, today known as PeachCare for Kids. She led a pediatric foundation supporting medically fragile children to grow beyond metro Atlanta to statewide, quadrupling its budget but more importantly, the number of children aided with medical equipment and services. Carolyn is a native of McLean, Virginia, a stone’s throw from the Potomac River and Washington, D.C. She attended the University of South Carolina and studied at Ludwigs Maximillian Universitat in Munich, Germany, a city she feels lucky to visit often and think of as her other home, as so many dear friends she met some 40 years ago continue to be part of her extended family. That German connection actually introduced her to the nonprofit sector after graduating from college, working in Washington D.C. for a German American Heritage Museum. That led to a move to the Midwest and her long-time passion for advocating for those with special needs. She led the development department for a small school for children with learning disabilities and found a niche in the world of child and pediatric service as a newlywed in Atlanta 30+ years ago, serving first as Foundation Director at Scottish Rite Children’s Medical Center (now Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta) and later launching the Caring Foundation at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia. After 10 years of service in her most beloved position as Executive Director of the Fragile Kids Foundation, working to provide medical equipment not covered by insurance or Medicaid to Georgia’s most medically fragile and special needs children, she took the plunge to try something completely different…
In 2015 Polakowski launched Cay Communications, LLC, a nonprofit consulting and direct services firm. Her vision to gather a professional team with expertise in all areas of the nonprofit sector to “light the way for great organizations to make a greater impact” has been realized. The group offers meaningful counsel to establish organizational goals, Conducting the Needs and Assets Assessment tools required before a great idea turns into a great nonprofit Mission and Vision, Logo Design, Program Design, Case Statement Development, Organizational Infrastructure Planning; Target Constituencies to be served, Goals and Timelines Planning; Grant Writing, Prospect Research; Board Development; Public and Media Relations; Speech Writing, Strategic Planning and Annual Fund Campaign Development and more. AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
C A Y C O M M U N I C A T I O N S
Nominee, East Cobb Citizen of the Year, 2019 & 2021
Honoree, Golden Goals Awards, InCommunity, 2019
Named an Atlanta Business Chronicle "Healthcare Hero", 2011
Humana "Atlanta Benefits" Honoree, 2009
Past Chairman, National Council of Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundations, 2000-2001
Woman of the Year The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation 1999
Past Board Member, Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies of Georgia, 1994-96
Past Board Member, Hughes Spalding Children's Hospital 1994-96
Rotarian of the Year, West DeKalb Rotary, 1996
Steering Committee Member, Georgia Children’s Campaign, 1994
Recognized by The Atlanta Project
for Community Service, 1994
Member - Cobb Executive Women 2024
Member - Metro Atlanta Women in Business for Good 2024
Carolyn tries to practice what she preaches about the importance of volunteering and staying active with projects that sing to her heart. She is a founding board member of Camp Trach Me Away, a special overnight camping and family education program for children living with
tracheotomies and ventilators, as well as Daniel’s Fight, supporting research for a cure for the rare neurological disorder, Alexander’s Disease. She is also an active supporter of Girl Power to Cure, raising funds for research and awareness for Rett’s Syndrome, a rare seizure disorder that predominately affects only girls. She is the Past President (2019/20) and current President-Elect of the East Cobb Civitan Club, also serving as the Civitan International Georgia District’s Public Relations Chair. In January 2021 she joined the board of Camp Big Heart, a statewide program for
children and adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, adopted as a signature project state-wide by Civitan Clubs. She is also a member of the Circle for Children, currently chairing Public Relations. She is a member of the Georgia Grant Writing Association and is certified in Board Governance and Training; is also a member of the Cobb Collaborative, the Cobb Chamber of Commerce, Special Needs Cobb, and the Association of Professional Fundraisers. Carolyn was nominated in both 2019 and 2020 as East Cobb “Citizen of the Year” at the Cobb Chamber of Commerce and in 2021, was selected among the area “celebrities” to
participate in the MUST Ministries “Dancing with the Stars” competition MUST Dance in 2021. She likens the experience to what she imagines jumping out of a plane would feel like.
