For immediate release December 17, 2019

Contact: David Lanham [email protected] 202-238-3139

Julia Stasch, former President of the MacArthur Foundation, joins Brookings as a Distinguished Nonresident Senior Fellow

Washington, D.C. — The Brookings Institution is pleased to announce that Julia Stasch, former President of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, has been named a Distinguished Nonresident Senior Fellow in the Metropolitan Policy Program at Brookings.

Stasch brings extensive experience and expertise in government, business, and social sectors. Her work has focused on community, economic and real estate development as well as philanthropy at local, state, and national levels. As President of the MacArthur Foundation from 2014 to 2019, she focused the foundation on “big bet” programs to deepen impact in areas such as criminal justice and climate change. She oversaw the launch of major initiatives, including Benefit , a collaboration with the Chicago Community Trust and the Calvert Impact Capital, which is mobilizing $100 million in impact investments in Chicago; the Catalytic Capital Consortium, which is providing $150 million in matching funds to funds or intermediaries that demonstrate a powerful use of catalytic capital across diverse sectors and geographies; and 100&Change, a global competition that awards $100 million every three years to a single proposal addressing a critical problem of our time.

Stasch is Board Chair of Lever for Change, a MacArthur affiliate inspired by 100&Change whose mission is to unlock philanthropic capital and accelerate change around the world’s biggest social challenges. Lever for Change helps philanthropists source vetted, high-impact philanthropic opportunities and connects problem- solving enterprises to significant amounts of philanthropic capital. Before becoming President, Stasch was MacArthur’s Vice President for U.S. Programs for 13 years. She has been praised for her exemplary leadership, commitment to justice, and willingness to take risks during her tenure at MacArthur.

Previously, Stasch served as the Chief of Staff to Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley and as the city’s Housing Commissioner, where she led a $1.3 billion affordable housing initiative and a $1.5 billion plan to transform Chicago’s public housing. She was Deputy Administrator for the General Services Administration under President , and President and CEO of ShoreBank Chicago Companies, including South Shore Bank, the nation’s first community development bank.

“Julia Stasch is a thought leader and trail blazer whose influence has improved lives across the globe,” said Brookings Vice President Amy Liu, who leads the Metropolitan Policy Program. “It is an honor to have her join Brookings Metro as a Distinguished Nonresident Senior Fellow, where, as a strategic advisor, she will help shape the next generation of policies and programs to create economic opportunity for every community.” “I am honored to be associated with and make a contribution to the Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program in this time of national and global challenge and opportunity,” said Stasch. “I especially admire the Program’s distinctive combination of rigor and practical insight, ability to nimbly evolve, and commitment to ensuring that its work reflects an essential diversity of perspective and experience.”

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The Metropolitan Policy Program at Brookings delivers research and solutions to help metropolitan leaders build an advanced economy that works for all. To learn more, please visit brookings.edu/metro. Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/brookingsmetro.