Jennifer Avers

Education: BA: Augustana College, in English, minor in Music, MS: DePaul University, in Public Service Management
Service Expertise: program development, evaluation, strategic planning, and grants management
TCC Practice Area: Nonprofit

Presentations & Speeches:

• Presenter, "Measuring and Reporting Community Impact," Net Impact Conference, Northwestern University
• Co-led, "Evaluation Tools You can Use: Designing and Conducting Evaluation," Association of Consultants to Nonprofits
• "Using Market Research to Develop Strategies to Engage your Audiences and Communities," North Park University Axelson Center Symposium
• "Measure Twice, Cut Once," Alliance Conference

Since joining TCC Group in the fall of 2001, Jennifer Avers has conducted a range of program evaluations for museums, educational systems, foundations, and management support organizations, has provided training and advisement to corporate clients around grants management, and has assisted in a range of strategic planning assignments. Avers is particularly versed in program development, evaluation, needs assessments, and policy decision-making. She has applied these skills to clients such as NPower, the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, Hostelling International, the Kansas Health Foundation, and the Shedd Aquarium. In 2006 she received a certificate in Capacity Builders with Nonprofits from Alliance's Cultural Competency Institute.

Prior to joining TCC Group, Avers served as a Program Manager at the Chaddick Institute for Urban Affairs and Metropolitan Development, where she implemented and oversaw a multitude of urban planning activities and forums. As the director's assistant, Avers worked with local governments and private foundations from across Northern Illinois to present pertinent planning workshops, with topics ranging from zoning ordinances, to sustainable growth, to economic development. She also edited, amended, and helped to publish policy briefs on national transportation issues.

At Lutheran Family Mission, a human services agency on Chicago's Westside, Avers served as both a Program Coordinator and Communications Manager. Facilitating needs assessments, evaluation activities, and other research for the Development and Programs Departments, she vied for and managed numerous grants, while also designing literacy programs for after-school programs, overseeing fine arts programming, and developing advisory boards and community partnerships.

In addition, Avers is very active in her community, bringing experience to the firm in working with grassroots organizations and partnering with government agencies. She has worked with local Aldermen, the United Way, neighborhood associations, and the YWCA to bring programs and resources to local communities.

Avers completed her Master of Science degree in Public Service Management at DePaul University in 2001. She received her Bachelor's degree from Augustana College in English with a minor in Music.

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