Charles A. McDonald
Social Impact Technology Leader | Philanthropy & AI Strategist
PROFILE
Bridging technology and trust-based philanthropy to transform how $100M+ reaches communities. Developer of 20+ AI-powered tools that honor human wisdom while scaling innovation. Trusted advisor to institutions including Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Kaiser Permanente, and Camelback Ventures. Recognized for turning aspirational visions into action with lasting impact.
SKILLS
Technical Development:
React 19Next.js 15TypeScriptPythonpandasNumPyPydantic v2JupyterPostgreSQLNeon ServerlessNeo4jMongoDBSupabasePrisma ORMDrizzle ORMRedisGitHub
AI/ML Tools:
Machine LearningDeep LearningContext EngineeringpgragVercel AI SDKAnthropic APIVoyageaiHugging FaceNeuronpediaCircuit-TracerNNsightLLM ResearchLLM PromptingLLM InterpretabilityLLM SafetyLLM AlignmentLLM Governance
Product & UX:
UI/UX DesignAPI Development & IntegrationData-Driven InterfacesAdobe IllustratorAdobe InDesign
Strategy & Leadership:
Strategic PlanningExecutive AdvisoryChange ManagementProgram DevelopmentFundraising Strategy
Social Impact:
Trust-Based PhilanthropyAI for Social GoodCommunity-Centered TechAdvocacy & Organizing CampaignsCross-Sector Coalitions
WORK EXPERIENCE
Actualize Impact, LLC - Founder and Principal
2021 - current | National
- ▸Designed and facilitated trust-based philanthropy programs for 100+ funders, resulting in $42M increase in unrestricted funding and 65% average reduction in application requirements for community-based grantees
- ▸Provided strategic consulting to major institutions including Chan Zuckerberg Initiative ($100M+ portfolio development), Federal Reserve Bank, St. Louis (racial equity assessment), and Kaiser Permanente (national union negotiations)
- ▸Developed AI-powered social impact applications creating assessment tools and decision-making frameworks that streamline operations and amplify community impact
- ▸Led multi-month learning cohorts and advocacy campaigns for organizations including Charter School Growth Fund, The City Fund, The Mind Trust, and Camelback Ventures, centering community voice and racial equity
Community Engagement Partners - Founder and Co-CEO
May 2018 - July 2025 | National
- ▸Secured $8M to establish local alliances of Black Community Innovators across multiple states
- ▸Orchestrated seven-figure investments for community-centered education initiatives like The My Village Project in partnership with Walton Family Foundation
- ▸Incubated and seeded TABLE, Cincinnati. The city's first Black-led community innovation hub, helping them secure two, six-figure investments from national funders
- ▸Guided local and national philanthropic organizations in directing over $100M in investments to grassroots community organizations, with 85% going to women and people-of-color-led initiatives
Education Cities - Senior Fellow
November 2016 - May 2018 | National
- ▸Led engagement strategy projects creating 25,000 high-quality educational seats in two cities
- ▸Secured $7.5M+ for local advocacy efforts across 11 cities
- ▸Developed a community engagement theory of action and signature tools for 24 member organizations, driving deeper collaboration and strategic focus across the network
Teach For America - Senior Managing Director
April 2013 - November 2016 | Charleston, SC
- ▸Raised $4.2 million for educational initiatives in South Carolina in year one and secured $3M annually from the state's Education Oversight Committee
- ▸Recruited and placed over 350 teachers, impacting 21,000 students across 14 districts while cultivating the most diverse teaching cohort (50% people of color, 43% from low-income backgrounds)
- ▸Directed media strategy, surpassing goals for positive press and achieving zero negative media coverage
Education Pioneers - Program Manager
October 2011 - April 2013 | Boston, MA
- ▸Led recruitment and placement strategies for Graduate School Fellowships, achieving the most diverse cohort in Greater Boston's history (52% people of color)
EDUCATION
Pahara-Aspen Education Fellowship - Alumnus
2016
Inaugurated in 2007 through a collaboration of two Henry Crown Fellows, this program offers high potential leaders who are reimagining public education an opportunity to broaden their perspectives, build networks of like-minded change agents, and hone their skills in values-based leadership to improve US public education.
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities - Bachelor of Arts, Political Science
May 2005 | Minneapolis, MN