Palmer helped found the Chronicle in 1988, when it was started by the Chronicle of Higher Education, Inc. She has served as its top editor since 1996.

Under Palmer’s leadership the organization has evolved from serving as a biweekly newspaper for social-sector professionals into an organization that offers a monthly magazine, robust news, advice and opinion sections, and a host of webinars, briefings, and other services. In addition, she helped forge a partnership with the Associated Press and the Conversation designed to educate the public about the nonprofit world, and established a fellowship program to coach local journalists to provide more sustained and sophisticated coverage of nonprofits and foundations.

Palmer has appeared frequently on radio and television to offer commentary on news in the nonprofit world. She is the editor of Challenges for Philanthropy and Nonprofits, a book published by the University Press of New England that collects three decades of observations by the nonprofit activist and Chronicle columnist Pablo Eisenberg. Before she helped found The Chronicle of Philanthropy, Palmer was editor for government and politics at The Chronicle of Higher Education. She was also a longtime member of the Chronicle of Higher Education Inc. leadership team.

Palmer is a graduate of Brown University.