About
Doug Schenkelberg has been named executive director, effective in January. Doug has directed public policy advocacy for Heartland Alliance, Greater Chicago Food Depository, Lawyers' Committee for Better Housing, and most recently, Forefront. He succeeds Ed Shurna, who retired after 12 years as executive director.
Doug has 15 years’ experience directing public policy advocacy at Chicago non-profits, including Heartland Alliance for Human Needs and Human Rights. He joins the CCH staff after two years serving as vice president of strategy and policy at Forefront, formerly called the Donors Forum.
Throughout his career, Doug has collaborated with CCH staff and leaders on housing advocacy. When he was associate director of policy and advocacy at Heartland Alliance, Doug coordinated its statewide campaign, From Poverty to Opportunity. The initiative led legislators in 2008 to form the Illinois Commission on the Elimination of Poverty, seeking to curb the number of people who live in extreme poverty.Doug also served as director of advocacy and outreach at the Greater Chicago Food Depository. He began his career at the Chicago Mutual Housing Network, where he directed housing development and training.
He serves on the Board of Directors for Illinois Partners for Human Service, Social Enterprise Alliance-Chicago, Illinois Attorney General’s Charitable Advisory Council, and the Illinois Comptroller’s Nonprofit Advisory.
Doug earned a bachelor’s degree from Grinnell College, and a master’s in urban planning and policy from the University of Illinois-Chicago. He lives with his wife and son in Oak Park.
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Leadership in the fight against homelessness
