Tara Harper Joins Cara Collective as Chief Philanthropy Officer

Cara Collective is pleased to announce the appointment of Tara Harper as Chief Philanthropy Officer, effective August 15.

In her nearly two decades of work, Harper has proven herself as a passionate and strategic non-profit leader, with a focus on advancing racial equity and social justice for communities that have been systemically disinvested in and under resourced. She joins Cara Collective from the Carole Robertson Center for Learning, where as Chief Development Officer she was responsible for both public and private revenue at the $37M Chicago-based early childhood and youth development organization. Prior to that, she served as Senior Director of Institutional Relations, Equity & Inclusion, at Children’s Home & Aid — a leading social service agency providing support for nearly 30,000 children and families throughout Illinois.

“Tara is coming to Cara Collective at a unique juncture for our organization, as we prepare to rollout a new strategic plan for our enterprise,” said Kathleen St. Louis Caliento, President & CEO. “Her combination of being an EDI and development professional deepens her understanding for the challenges many of our communities experience and has provided her with the tools and knowledge necessary to creatively evolve fundraising practices. I am thrilled to have her leading our philanthropic charge as we look to our future.”

Harper earned her BA in Political Science from the University of Illinois, Urbana–Champaign and has completed the Diversity and Inclusion Certification Program through Cornell University. She is a member of the Board of Trustees for Opportunity Knocks, an organization that supports people with intellectual and developmental disabilities as they live, work, learn, grow, and connect within their community.

Click here to meet the rest of Cara Collective’s leadership.