People

Chartise Clark

Managing Director

Executive Search, Managing Directors, Nonprofit and Social Impact

Mission-driven clients come to Chartise for her thoughtful counsel on building high-performing, best-in-class teams. Chartise focuses on placing leaders who are able to solve for some of the most pressing challenges organizations face today, including effectively leading an increasingly multigenerational and racially diverse workforce, addressing calls for equity and inclusion to be integrated into operational practices, culture and consensus building, board governance and organizational transformation.

She has led searches for a wide range of national and global clients, including artistic and cultural institutions, racial, social justice and advocacy organizations, foundations and social services agencies.

Deeply committed to diversity, equity and inclusion work as a queer Black woman, Chartise has played a leading role in advancing Koya Partners | Diversified Search Group’s practices to deepen relationships with BIPOC leaders. She takes a consultative approach to helping clients navigate emerging challenges related to equity, access and belonging, including designing tailored search processes that prioritize inclusion and successful engagement for Board members and staff alike.

As a former ballerina, Chartise believes in the generative power of art and has been grateful to bring her passion to her work in arts and culture. Her clients in this space have included the Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation, Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), Lyric Opera of Chicago, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Firelight Media and Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum.

During her time in Boston, Chartise organized with several social and racial justice movements. She has since channeled her connection to that work into her work in executive search, partnering with Color Of Change, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), NAACP Legal Defense Fund, the Advancement Project, Common Cause, the Minnesota Freedom Fund, Everybody Votes Campaign, Every Texan, the Defender Association of Philadelphia, the Texas Civil Rights Project and Mi Familia Vota, among others. Additionally, she played a leading role in developing a highly competitive candidate pool in Koya’s search for the President and CEO of the Southern Poverty Law Center.

In human and social services, she has partnered with Feeding America, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Easterseals, Cara, Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, Prevent Child Abuse America, Global Foodbanking Network, and Lowcountry Food Bank.

Deeply passionate about youth services and education, Chartise has co-led searches for Strive Together, After School Matters, Loyola University Chicago, the Carole Robertson Center for Learning, The Family Institute at Northwestern University, Noble Network of Charter Schools, The Children’s Guild, Chicago Scholars and Chicago State University Foundation.

Prior to Koya, she led recruitment for education nonprofits in the Bay Area and Boston, recruiting educators and senior nonprofit leaders. At UP, Chartise co-founded the organization’s Diversity and Inclusivity Task Force, which developed an audit framework, roadmap, and specific recommendations to build more racially diverse and gender-inclusive teams.

Chartise is based in Chicago and volunteers her time as a co-founder of the West Side Giving Circle, which is sponsored by Chicago Foundation for Women. She is also a member of the Joffrey Ballet Auxiliary Board.

Education

BA, American Studies (with thesis honors)
Tufts University

Graduate Level Coursework, Business and Organizational Development
Howard University