Kelly Jones

Kelly Jones is a strategist, operator, and thought partner who has dedicated her career to improving outcomes and opportunities for children and families experiencing poverty.1 She served as the Chief Investment + Strategy Officer at A Better Chicago from November 2020 to April 2022.1 In this role, she oversaw organization-wide strategy, including strategic planning, defining annual priorities and goals, and facilitating cross-functional planning.1

Key accomplishments during her tenure at A Better Chicago include:

1. Accelerating organizational alignment and increased performance through a shift to agile management and OKRs after the team transitioned to remote work.1
2. Building and managing a multi-year, multi-million dollar investment budget and associated forecasts.1
3. Creating and directing the Chicago Design Challenge, a multi-year $7.5M initiative to find and fund innovative approaches to learning recovery and holistic wellness for Chicago's youth.1

Prior to her role as Chief Investment + Strategy Officer, Kelly served as the Chief External Relations Officer at A Better Chicago from November 2017 to November 2020.1 In this position, she developed and executed a comprehensive external relations strategy, including updating and redefining the organization's brand and stakeholder engagement approach.1

In 2022, Kelly launched her own consulting practice, Winona Street Consulting, which specializes in supporting organizations with setting vision and creating strategy, executive leadership and support, and growth strategy.12

Kelly holds a BA in history from Indiana University Bloomington and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.2 She currently lives in Chicago and serves on the board of Young Chicago Authors while also teaching yoga in the community.2