Rae began her career with a decade in international trade compliance and logistics, serving clients worldwide and working closely with federal regulatory agencies including the DOT, EPA, FDA, and USDA. She brings for-profit rigor to mission-driven organizations, helping them operate with strategy, discipline, and efficiency.

Space has long been a personal passion, leading Rae to engage in astronomy education and outreach for many years. A NASA Solar System Ambassador for 10 years, Rae was also mayor-appointed to serve on the board of the internationally renowned Clark Planetarium.

Since transitioning to the nonprofit sector, Rae has held leadership roles across an array of mission-driven organizations, including higher education, health and social justice, and climate initiatives. Formerly the Executive Director of a global nonprofit, she has also served with Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, one of the world's largest philanthropic service organizations, and with the National Grants Management Association, which collaborated with the White House Office of Management and Budget on federal grants management. In a prior role as Vice President of Development and Community Relations, she stewarded multi-year gifts from foundations and individual donors. Through these experiences, Rae has honed deep expertise in operations, governance, and strategic collaboration. In addition to her organizational leadership work, Rae consults for nonprofits, helping them build stronger systems, sharpen their operations, and scale their impact.

Rae regularly speaks on nonprofit operations and management, with past engagements including the Washington State Nonprofit Conference, the Montana Nonprofit Conference, the National Association of Counties, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Grants Conference, among others. She holds several professional credentials, including the Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation from ASAE, Certified Nonprofit Accounting Professional from FMA Institute, HR Essentials from SHRM, and a DEI for HR Certificate from Cornell University.

Rae holds a bachelor's degree in Philosophy and a Master's in Public Management from Carnegie Mellon University, and she is currently pursuing a PhD in Nonprofit Organizational Leadership. She has taught undergraduate philosophy at Utah Valley University and serves on the board of directors of Abundant Montana.