Jessyca Dudley

Jessyca Dudley has more than two decades of experience working to transform and democratize philanthropy. Beginning as a volunteer at her church’s food bank, and later as the founder of the American Cancer Society’s youth board in Chicago, Jessyca officially began her career in philanthropy in 2013 as the Gun Violence Prevention program officer for the Joyce Foundation. In this role, she directed the program’s effort to address and reduce racial disparities by developing staff and grantee capacity to advance racial equity through the management of a $2 million portfolio of researchers and advocates.

Jessyca is currently the CEO of Bold Ventures and the director of Chicago African Americans in Philanthropy (CAAIP). In just 6 months as CAAIP’s executive director, Jessyca increased the organization’s membership by 30% and its fundraising revenues by 20%.

Throughout her time in philanthropy, Jessyca has served as a Director at Arabella Advisors where she promoted dialogue, advocated for investment in BIPOC communities, and built infrastructure for equitable leadership roles in the social sector. She has held positions with the Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, the University of Illinois at Chicago, and the University of Chicago. With these organizations, she has developed and implemented community-based prevention and outreach programs and conducted clinical and social science research to improve the health of communities in Chicago.

Jessyca holds an MPH in Maternal and Child Health from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a BA in Women’s Studies from Skidmore College.