Chris Cardona

Chris Cardona is a seasoned professional in the philanthropic sector, currently serving as the Managing Director of Discovery, Exploration, and Programs at the MacArthur Foundation in Chicago, Illinois.1 He assumed this role in August 2023, bringing with him extensive experience in strategy development, evaluation, and capacity building for foundations and nonprofits.1

In his current position, Cardona leads a team responsible for identifying new areas of grantmaking for MacArthur Foundation. His work involves surfacing practices, programs, and strategies that advance organizational goals and bring about transformative change. Additionally, he serves on the Leadership Advisory Team, advising the foundation's President on strategic and policy matters.1

Prior to joining MacArthur Foundation, Cardona had a notable career in the philanthropic sector:

1. He worked at TCC Group, a private consulting firm, where he held positions including:

   • Senior Consultant (2008-2011)
   • Associate Director of Philanthropy (2011-2013)
   • Partner and Vice President (2013-2023)1

2. Earlier in his career, Cardona worked at Hispanics in Philanthropy, where he held various roles between 1997 and 2000, including Administrative Manager, Membership Coordinator, and Program Director for Projects.1

Cardona's educational background includes:

• B.A. in Political Science from Williams College (1991-1995)
• M.A. and Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley (2000-2008)1

He is multilingual, with full professional proficiency in Spanish, limited working proficiency in Italian, and elementary proficiency in French.1

Throughout his career, Cardona has demonstrated a significant interest in making philanthropy more accessible to underserved communities and has been involved in shaping the evolution of the philanthropic and nonprofit sectors.1