Michael Davidson Email & Phone Number

Greater Chicago Area

One of the nation’s oldest and most successful metropolitan conservation organizations, Openlands protects the natural and open spaces of northeastern Illinois and the surrounding region to ensure cleaner air and water, protect natural habitats and wildlife, and help balance and enrich our lives. Visit Openlands.org.

Greater Chicago Area

Led 10-year, $100MM strategy to improve the built and natural conditions of the Chicago region’s underinvested Black and Latinx communities; Deployed 215 strategy-aligned Catalyzing Neighborhood Investment grants representing $21MM of impact since 2020.Worked with senior leadership to set and achieve short and long-term organizational goals for business operations, strategy, and culture; Implemented three strategic plans in 10 years.Engaged the Trust’s Executive Committee and… Show more Led 10-year, $100MM strategy to improve the built and natural conditions of the Chicago region’s underinvested Black and Latinx communities; Deployed 215 strategy-aligned Catalyzing Neighborhood Investment grants representing $21MM of impact since 2020.Worked with senior leadership to set and achieve short and long-term organizational goals for business operations, strategy, and culture; Implemented three strategic plans in 10 years.Engaged the Trust’s Executive Committee and Trustee Banks on solutions that align with Trust strategy.Delivered on philanthropic goals of donors; Deployed over $30MM deployed for environmental and food system impact since 2013.Leveraged resources from government, corporate, and philanthropic partners to scale impact; Engaged each sector a minimum of 3 times monthly.Brought expertise to boards, committees, working groups, and in community and civic forums. Show less

Greater Chicago Area

Designed and managed the largest sustainable development charitable giving portfolio in the region, with over 200 grants made and $30MM invested.Partnered with donor on the largest local food systems funding initiative in the region, with over 200 grants made and $24MM invested.Launched $12MM impact fund for food system enterprises.

Chicago

Led ICLEI USA’s Midwest Regional Office on the delivery of customized support to local governments across 13 states to improve community-scale energy, climate mitigation/adaptation, and sustainability performance.Managed an annual budget of $300,000, growing membership to 90 municipalities.Launched peer networks of local government sustainability staff in three Midwest subregions, totaling over 60 cities and counties.

Chicago

Primary clients: Designed and vetted what would later become The Chicago Community Trust’s first-ever sustainable development funding priority. American Planning Association – Provided expert review and content analysis on Becoming an Urban Planner: A Guide to Careers in Planning and Urban Design, published in December 2009 by John Wiley & Sons; Edited 22,000-entry dictionary for urban and regional planners, published in 2010 by John Wiley & Sons.

Evanston, Il

Led grantmaking to improve the ecological conditions of the Great Lakes through market-based approaches to invasive species management, water conservation, and water quality improvement.

Chicago

Led the only smart growth coalition in Illinois, achieving legislative victories to curb urban sprawl through a 12-member steering committee of organizations representing the public, nonprofit, and private sectors.Managed an annual budget of $400,000, growing coalition membership to 2,000 individuals and 200 organizations. Implemented the Campaign’s first-ever strategic plan and policy agenda. Achieved policy victories for countywide stormwater management, regional water… Show more Led the only smart growth coalition in Illinois, achieving legislative victories to curb urban sprawl through a 12-member steering committee of organizations representing the public, nonprofit, and private sectors.Managed an annual budget of $400,000, growing coalition membership to 2,000 individuals and 200 organizations. Implemented the Campaign’s first-ever strategic plan and policy agenda. Achieved policy victories for countywide stormwater management, regional water supply planning and Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning as the established regional planning authority.Leveraged the coalition’s network to provide hands-on technical assistance to dozens of local governments. Show less

Chicago

Managed a staff of six in the Planning Advisory Service of the APA Research Department, providing technical information on best practices in urban and regional planning to practitioners in all sectors, with 1,500 subscribing organizations and more than 4,000 research inquiries annually.Edited/produced over 100 issues of Zoning Practice, a serial publication on zoning provision and land use policy.

Chicago

Conducted research on land-use issues for planning professionals in metropolitan Chicago, and assisted the director on technical programs and special events for planning and zoning practitioners and students.

Chicago

Assisted post-graduate faculty on research, course curricula, and programmatic functions in the School of Public Service.

Gurnee, Il

Assisted the director on administrative functions of the Commission.

Master Of Science, Public Service Management (Graduated With Academic Distinction)

Bachelor Of Science, Marketing