Meet Our Team:

Rebecca Clark

Consultant

Rebecca Clark is an experienced leader who has defined her career by engaging in small and large public and nonprofit organizations to create improved and efficient processes and systems that maximize programmatic impact and financial stability.  Starting her career in Chicago Public Schools district departments, Rebecca worked on the team that implemented an extensive process that analyzed district data and formulated Arne Duncan's Education Plan for his tenure leading the district; led the district-wide effort to ensure compliance and quality of service across 500+ schools related to special education services and successfully exit federal and state court monitoring; and directed the team that carefully transitioned students with disabilities, and particularly the most service-intensive students, from 50 closing schools to new receiving schools without the loss of any critical or legally required supports.  

After her 13 years with CPS, she spent time at an education technology start-up, consulting with large and small school districts across the United States to improve processes and hinge their hiring practices on predictive analytics - drawing on both her process-orientation and her passion for efficiency and impact.  In the last 9 years, she has shifted her practice to the non-profit space, successfully transforming struggling agencies into high-quality and growth-oriented organizations through careful modernization of programs and business models to ensure the organizations were stabilized and elevating their impact.

Q&A with Rebecca (August 2024)

  • How have your roles at CPS, Anixter Center, and Easterseals of Chicagoland prepared you for your role with Mission + Strategy?

    In each of my professional roles—from CPS to Anixter Center to Easterseals—I was brought in to solve a pain point for an organization. In each opportunity I had, I have been able to challenge the idea that what has always been done is the way things should continue to be done, and I have framed the work in understanding the impact of each action. To enact these large systems changes, it takes really listening to understand, gently challenging assumptions, and figuring out how to bring people along.

  • What inspired you to join Mission + Strategy, and what do you find most compelling about our mission to ignite community transformation through collaboration?

    It is such an exciting time for nonprofits. The landscape of the work is evolving where partnerships and strategic thinking is essential for organizations to have a clear path forward. Mission + Strategy is creating space to support all types of organizations in deliberately thinking through their ability to effectively do their mission work. Grounding this work in true collaboration and impact aligns with my values and builds on my previous experiences.

  • With your background in nonprofit leadership, how do you plan to support nonprofit leaders in overcoming their challenges and achieving sustainable impact?

    In supporting other leaders, it is important to start by listening, understanding and really figuring out what their goal is. Being a nonprofit leader is complex, with the need to carefully balance all of the needs of stakeholders with organizational stability—for both the short and long term results. Having been a CEO, I am sensitive to the pressures. I also have experience that helps me work with others to really identify issues and desired outcomes. I offer support via reflection, direction, and desired impact aligned to mission work.

    I bring to this role experience managing through change, understanding each organization is different, each team requires different encouragement and support, and the needs of a Board to have confidence and all-in support of a leader varies by the Board chair and overall priorities of the Board membership.

Together, we are stronger.

Ready to strike a balance between your mission and business strategies?