Francia E. Harrington
Philanthropy Professional and Corporate Executive
Francee Harrington is a philanthropy professional, corporate executive, civic leader, social impact entrepreneur, nonprofit board leader, mentor and community volunteer. Her expertise is in corporate responsibility, strategic partnerships, business development, government advocacy, media and public relations, brand building, sponsorship strategies, cause-based marketing, internal and external communications, employee voluntarism and employee affinity groups. She has held executive leadership roles in banking, healthcare, media and nonprofit management. Her philanthropic expertise is focused in the areas of: diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), economic and workforce development, education, housing, financial literacy, social services, health, homelessness, social impact investing, and arts and culture.
Ms. Harrington has been honored with the Professional Grantor Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), was named among the Top Female Philanthropists in Chicago and has been a guest speaker for Chicago Women in Philanthropy (CWIP), AFP, The Women’s Philanthropy Institute: Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University, the Executives’ Club of Chicago, Loyola University’s Baumhart Center and many others.
Ms. Harrington joined Open Door Advisors in 2020 as a Senior Advisor. Concurrently, she is serving as co-founder with Margot Pritzker of the Chicago Urban Agriculture Food System Navigator, a resource that addresses racial and social justice inequities. The Navigator connects BIPOC growers and the food ecosystem through collaboration, communication, convenings and data to focus on the fundamental importance of accessibility to food, its relationship to health, jobs, community development and environmental sustainability.
During the pandemic and a year of racial reconciliation, Ms. Harrington led work on the BMO Harris Bank “Calling for Change” mural project to inspire hope and unity for our city through the work of teen artists from local non-profits. Their artwork is now part of the permanent collection at the Harold Washington Library, an installation at the DuSable Museum of African American History and soon, an exhibition at O’Hare International Airport.
At Fifth Third Bank, Ms. Harrington led work in civic engagement, strategic partnerships and executive leadership. Previously, she served as President and Chief Strategy Officer at Make It Better Media and as Chief Development Officer and President of the Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago Foundation. At JPMorgan Chase, she served as Director of Civic Affairs in the Chicago Region Office of the Chairman and managed the bank’s charitable foundation, philanthropic strategies and staff. Prior to that role, she held positions of increasing responsibility in JPMorgan Chase’s legacy banks serving every line of business and global region.
Ms. Harrington’s volunteerism includes service as Chair of Ingenuity, Inc., the Chicago Public Library Foundation, Family Focus and committees of The Art Institute of Chicago, The Chicago History Museum. She is a member of the Economic Club of Chicago, the Executives’ Club, the Wayfarer’s Club, the Corporate Responsibility Group and previously the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, the Chicago Public Schools’ Financial Literacy Committee and the board of the Chicago High School for the Arts. She serves as an advisor to Bright Promises Foundation, WINGS and other nonprofit organizations.
Ms. Harrington’s academic work includes a Bachelor of Science degree from the Tabor School of Business at Millikin University, and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of California Irvine’s Merage School of Business. She serves on the Leadership Council of the Baumhart Center at Loyola University’s Quinlan School of Business.
Philanthropy Professional and Corporate Executive
Francee Harrington is a philanthropy professional, corporate executive, civic leader, social impact entrepreneur, nonprofit board leader, mentor and community volunteer. Her expertise is in corporate responsibility, strategic partnerships, business development, government advocacy, media and public relations, brand building, sponsorship strategies, cause-based marketing, internal and external communications, employee voluntarism and employee affinity groups. She has held executive leadership roles in banking, healthcare, media and nonprofit management. Her philanthropic expertise is focused in the areas of: diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), economic and workforce development, education, housing, financial literacy, social services, health, homelessness, social impact investing, and arts and culture.
Ms. Harrington has been honored with the Professional Grantor Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), was named among the Top Female Philanthropists in Chicago and has been a guest speaker for Chicago Women in Philanthropy (CWIP), AFP, The Women’s Philanthropy Institute: Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University, the Executives’ Club of Chicago, Loyola University’s Baumhart Center and many others.
Ms. Harrington joined Open Door Advisors in 2020 as a Senior Advisor. Concurrently, she is serving as co-founder with Margot Pritzker of the Chicago Urban Agriculture Food System Navigator, a resource that addresses racial and social justice inequities. The Navigator connects BIPOC growers and the food ecosystem through collaboration, communication, convenings and data to focus on the fundamental importance of accessibility to food, its relationship to health, jobs, community development and environmental sustainability.
During the pandemic and a year of racial reconciliation, Ms. Harrington led work on the BMO Harris Bank “Calling for Change” mural project to inspire hope and unity for our city through the work of teen artists from local non-profits. Their artwork is now part of the permanent collection at the Harold Washington Library, an installation at the DuSable Museum of African American History and soon, an exhibition at O’Hare International Airport.
At Fifth Third Bank, Ms. Harrington led work in civic engagement, strategic partnerships and executive leadership. Previously, she served as President and Chief Strategy Officer at Make It Better Media and as Chief Development Officer and President of the Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago Foundation. At JPMorgan Chase, she served as Director of Civic Affairs in the Chicago Region Office of the Chairman and managed the bank’s charitable foundation, philanthropic strategies and staff. Prior to that role, she held positions of increasing responsibility in JPMorgan Chase’s legacy banks serving every line of business and global region.
Ms. Harrington’s volunteerism includes service as Chair of Ingenuity, Inc., the Chicago Public Library Foundation, Family Focus and committees of The Art Institute of Chicago, The Chicago History Museum. She is a member of the Economic Club of Chicago, the Executives’ Club, the Wayfarer’s Club, the Corporate Responsibility Group and previously the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, the Chicago Public Schools’ Financial Literacy Committee and the board of the Chicago High School for the Arts. She serves as an advisor to Bright Promises Foundation, WINGS and other nonprofit organizations.
Ms. Harrington’s academic work includes a Bachelor of Science degree from the Tabor School of Business at Millikin University, and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of California Irvine’s Merage School of Business. She serves on the Leadership Council of the Baumhart Center at Loyola University’s Quinlan School of Business.