Freedman Consulting, LLC

In a recent The Chronicle of Philanthropy article, Freedman Consulting Vice President Conor McKay said: “When you have more information, it makes [the future] more bite-sized and manageable.” As we look towards the election next month, scenario planning is a key tool that we and many others have used. This type of planning helps our clients consider the ways that the changes to the political environment impacts the outcomes we want to see in the world. For further reading, find our Scenario Planning resource – initially shared January 2024 – available here:?https://lnkd.in/eEynxmk2

We are excited that the Firm continues to grow and to announce that Kyra Jennings will serve as President of Freedman Consulting! Thomas Freedman will continue to serve the Firm as CEO and Co-Founder and Karin Freedman as CFO and Co-Founder. Nearly 14 years ago, Kyra joined the Firm as a Project Director and Chief of Staff. Since then, she has served as Vice President and, most recently, as Executive Vice President where she has overseen client projects and firm operations and helped drive the strategic direction of the Firm. Prior to her time at Freedman Consulting, she worked in political communications for federal and state leaders and campaigns. Join us in congratulating Kyra Jennings on this exciting leadership announcement!

This past week, Freedman Consulting’s What Works Plus (WW+) team gathered together in New York City for a retreat. WW+ provides philanthropy with knowledge-building and coordination opportunities to support equitable and effective implementation of historic federal infrastructure, climate, and economic development funding. The team spent time reflecting and planning for months of impact to come. Afterwards, the team came together for a fun ferry tour learning about climate resilience efforts in New York City!

Join the Freedman Consulting team! We are hiring for two positions to be based in Washington, DC. More on the roles and how to apply below! ??We are seeking a Project Director to lead a portfolio of projects featuring a wide variety of technology policy and related issues. Ideal candidates will have 7-10 years of previous policy, legislative, consulting, communications, and/or research experience. Learn more about the role here:?https://lnkd.in/evTqGPvX ??We are hiring an HR and Operations Manager! Reporting to the VP for HR, DEIB & Operations, this is a highly visible, hands-on role that supports employee onboarding, manages benefits, and advances the firm's operational efficiency. We are looking for DC-based candidates with 5-7 years of experience in HR, operations, or office management. Learn more about the role here:?https://lnkd.in/ez_H2vST

On Thursday, Senior Advisor Kathleen Kelly Janus will join Stanford Social Innovation Review for “A Guide to Government Partnership: Learn to Master Scaling.” Alongside Karen Skelton, Kaying Hang, and Moderator Marcie Bianco, Kathleen will dive deep into how public-private partnerships can operate and thrive. Find more about the webinar below and read Kathleen’s Summer 2024 article in SSIR here:?https://lnkd.in/emDHBcTA

?? Calling all undergraduates! Freedman Consulting is now accepting applications for our Spring 2025 part-time, paid, Phillip Bevington Policy & Research Internship for currently enrolled undergraduate students. Applications will close on Wednesday, September 25th. Learn more about the internship here: https://lnkd.in/gamXbRjd Apply for the position here: https://lnkd.in/gDbxgyun

Join the Freedman Consulting team! We are hiring for a new position supporting the Bloomberg Cities Insights Unit to be based in either New York, N.Y. or Washington, D.C. Find more on the position and how to apply below! ? We are seeking a skilled Manager for Program Research to research and support the development and design of new programs supporting city-government efforts to harness resources and develop innovation capacity. Ideal candidates will have 5-7+ years of experience in strategy consulting, strategic research, program strategy, or other related field and a proven track record of leading and managing complex research and/or strategy projects. Learn more and apply today: https://lnkd.in/eUzeYi3N

With many colleges starting back up, we are looking back at the accomplishments of this summer’s wonderful class of Phillip Bevington Policy & Research interns! In this post, we asked them: “What did this internship help you realize about your career?” ? University of Southern California Senior Katelyn Eng said: “Being staffed on multiple projects made me realize that I enjoy working in a fast-paced environment, especially one that prioritizes learning, reflection, and improvement. I didn’t know philanthropy consulting existed before this internship, but I highly value this work for combining strategic thinking and positive impact.” ? Northwestern University Junior Lily Shen said: “This internship reinforced my aspiration to pursue a career related to policy and sparked a newfound interest in philanthropy. I am eager to apply the skills I've gained here at Freedman to future opportunities and further explore the interconnection of policy, philanthropy, and politics.”

Last month, the California Council for Career Education published the “Community Input and Considerations for the California Master Plan for Career Education” document, a key milestone in implementing Governor Gavin Newsom’s executive order directing agencies to transform and strengthen California’s education and workforce pathways. Our team is proud to help facilitate the public-private partnership in coordination with leaders from the Governor's Office, including Elena Chavez Quezada and Michael Wiafe, MPP, which brings together funders, state leaders, and implementing partners on a monthly basis to discuss progress and collaborate on problem-solving. Funders who have provided critical support include the College Futures Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, the Strada Education Foundation, and the Stuart Foundation. The “Community Input and Considerations for the California Master Plan for Career Education” document represents the culmination of a regional design process led by WestEd. WestEd’s process leveraged ten convenings to engage over 800 stakeholders in identifying the systemic barriers that prevent Californians from gaining new skills, translating skills to workforce opportunities, and accessing rewarding, living-wage work. We are excited to continue supporting this systems-change effort! ?

In a Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity interview last week, Freedman Consulting Senior Advisor Bill Nichols spoke to The 51st about the process of starting up a local, community-first newsroom. In the piece, they hit on important topics like learnings from other local publications, sustainable operations and fundraising practices, and avoiding burnout. Find their conversation below or here:?https://lnkd.in/ekmDrxE4