Supporting mission-driven organizations to achieve more.
Example projects: public affairs strategy development, executive leader coaching, philanthropic advising, interim Chief of Public Affairs support.
Example projects: message development, ghostwriting speeches or internal communications, press releases, interview prep/media training, social media strategy.
Example projects: long-term strategic planning, new program launch feasibility study, stakeholder perspective gathering and synthesis, theory of change exercises.
Example projects: fractional Chief of Staff, interim President/CEO/ED, program leadership, discreet project management.
About
Matt McCabe has served as a senior executive in large, high-performing social impact organizations. With a track record as Chief of Staff, Chief of Public Affairs, and Executive Director for mission-driven organizations with $200m+ budgets, he consults on projects related to strategy, public affairs (communications, government affairs, community engagement), program development, and project management.
Matt McCabe has served as a senior executive in large, high-performing social impact organizations. With a track record as Chief of Staff, Chief of Public Affairs, and Executive Director for mission-driven organizations with $200m+ budgets, he consults on projects related to strategy, public affairs (communications, government affairs, community engagement), program development, and project management.
As Executive Director of Strategic Initiatives at Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago Matt led strategic planning and special projects for one of the largest and oldest human services providers in the Midwest, serving nearly 400,000 clients annually. During his time at Catholic Charities he worked with the Board, staff, and key stakeholders to launch Vision 2030, a bold 7-year strategic plan for the future of the organization – charting a path for renewal for the cornerstone institution.
As Chief of Public Affairs and Chief of Staff for Noble Schools, Matt led strategic planning, policy, advocacy, and communications in service of 12,700 Chicago students across 18 high-performing charter public schools. Matt led the team that secured approval to open the $20 million Mansueto High School in Brighton Park (despite well-funded and organized opposition). As an active part of the SB 1947 coalition, Matt helped secure more equitable school funding in Illinois – including a $37m increase for charter schools. As the in-house lobbyist for Noble, he led efforts to successfully defeat dozens of toxic and nuisance bills in Springfield each year. He led internal and external communications through a challenging and unplanned CEO transition and later managed the first full-scale brand refresh in Noble’s 20-year history.
In 2010, President Barack Obama nominated Matt to a U.S. Senate-confirmed seat on the AmeriCorps board of directors. He was also appointed by Gov. Pat Quinn to the Serve Illinois Commission, and was twice elected as a Local School Council member in Chicago Public Schools.
Matt has been a Leadership Greater Chicago fellow since 2024 and has completed fellowships with Teach Plus and Leadership for Educational Equity. He began his career as a Teach for America AmeriCorps Member teaching 3rd grade and then sophomore AP World History in Chicago where he developed innovative edtech practices.