Emily Harris

Emily Harris retired from her role as founding Executive Director of the Disability & Philanthropy Forum, which mobilizes philanthropy toward disability inclusion, rights and justice, in 2024. 

Emily was the founding Executive Director of ADA 25 Advancing Leadership (now Disability Lead), the nation’s first disability civic leadership program. As a Senior Director at the Chicago Community Trust, she led ADA 25 Chicago, and engaged more than 200 local organizations in doing one thing to advance disability inclusion in honor of the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. At the Trust, she also directed the Disabilities Fund, and facilitated a roundtable multi-sector coalition to advance equity in the construction industry. As Vice President of Metropolis Strategies, Emily focused on regional economic growth, open space conservation, early childhood education policy, and served as Executive Director of the Burnham Plan Centennial. Through her consulting firm, Harris Strategies LLC, Emily helped non-profit organizations, public agencies, businesses and philanthropies to develop strategic plans and move their ideas to action.

Emily earned a B.A. from Oberlin College and an M.A. from the University of Chicago. Since retiring she has engaged with volunteer opportunities including chairing the Israel-Palestine Working Group at the Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation in Evanston; serving on a coordinating team for the Movement Voter Project National Donor Network; and participating in Protect Rogers Park to support our immigrant neighbors. A member of Disability Lead, she is proud to be a part of the disability community.