Dan Tollefson is the executive director of the Resilient Chicago Fund, a multi-funder initiative housed at The Chicago Community Trust.
In this role, his work focuses on supporting local nonprofits and public agencies as they reimagine how to meet basic human needs amid shifting federal policy and funding landscapes.
Dan previously served as the Trust’s Chief of Staff working to refine organizational strategy, strengthen cross-sector collaboration, and support the Trust’s mission and vision. Over the years, Dan also managed, designed and supported a range of partnerships across local journalism, emergency response, community safety, and broader efforts to improve wellbeing for all Chicagoans—including helping to steward large-scale philanthropic collaborations that respond to community needs.
Dan began his career as a high school English teacher on Chicago’s West Side and later helped launch a peer-mentoring nonprofit that supported students academically, socially and emotionally. He continues to work with emerging leaders at the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy and supports local small businesses through the Polsky Center’s Small Business Growth Program. He also advises early-stage nonprofits and social impact ventures.
Dan holds a master’s degree from the Harris School of Public Policy and is an Edwardson Civic Scholar at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
