Kirstin Yeado is a senior strategy officer. She is responsible for ensuring Ascendium's grantmaking is attentive to the unique needs and opportunities of rural learners. Additionally, Kirstin is responsible for developing tools and resources to build and strengthen effective grantmaking practices across the Education Philanthropy team. She joined the organization in 2017.
Previously, she was a community impact manager at Higher Expectations for Racine County, a collective impact partnership. She has also held positions with the Center for the Study of Social Policy and Mercy Home for Boys and Girls. Outside of Ascendium, Kirstin is co-chair of 100+ Women Who Care -Milwaukee.
Raised in Illinois, she earned a Master of Arts degree in Social Service Administration at the University of Chicago. She also earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Spanish from Marquette University.