Esther Lee

In her role as director, people and operations, Esther is responsible for overseeing all operations and people work at the Fund. Previously, she served as The Fund’s director of investments, developing the program investment framework and leading the organization’s due diligence process. 

Esther began her career in Asia, where she taught and developed English-as-a-second-language programs at elite high schools in South Korea and China. After five years abroad, Esther chose to focus her career on taking measurable steps to make a positive and meaningful impact in her hometown of Chicago. Before joining the Fund team, she worked at 826CHI, overseeing data efforts to increase equitable access to quality arts education programs in the city.

Outside of work, Esther is learning to be a mom to a delightful (and very opinionated) new daughter, while sharing a life — and whatever sleep they can find — with her husband.