Monique B. Jones, LCSW, is a visionary leader with an extensive background in mental health, violence prevention, philanthropy, and gender & racial equity. Her career and civic interests span the intersections where the lives of those most vulnerable fall victim to structural oppression and inequity. As a thriving Multiple Sclerosis warrior, she uses her experience and platform for education, encouragement, advocacy and daily reality checks.
She brings over 25 years of leadership in the nonprofit sector to her role as the fourth President & CEO for Forefront; Illinois’ premier organization focused on connecting philanthropy, operating nonprofits, and their allies to improve the lives of all people in Illinois. Monique led the establishment of the organization’s Racial Equity Collective and an expanded public policy footprint.
In her past leadership at the Evanston Community Foundation, she led the implementation of racial equity with grant making, fundraising and leadership development. She was successful at increasing the asset size of the organization from $18M to $30M in just five years. Under Monique’s leadership the Foundation established the Evanston Reparations Community Fund, the first of any Community Foundation nationally in support of the City of Evanston’s resolution to support reparations. Of note is her restructuring of the Foundation during the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, releasing grant restrictions, raising $6M. Monique is highly experienced at leading during difficult times.
Monique is Vice Chair of IFF (Illinois Facilities Fund) a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) responsible for providing capital for community centers, housing, and early childhood projects in the Midwest. Locally she serves on the CAN TV Board supporting their mission to give a voice to all Chicagoans. Monique also serves on the National Association of Social Work Foundation Board.
Monique is a member of the African Citizen Descent Reparations Commission (ACDRC) for the State of Illinois. She is a 2024 How Women Lead –Women Leaders for the World Fellow and a class of 2022 Leadership Greater Chicago, Daniel Burnham Fellow. In 2022 she also became a Co-Curator of Voice. Vision. Value: Black Women Leading Philanthropy Book and Online Experience. Her community recognitions include being named a 2024 MS Luncheon for a Cure Honoree, 2020 Changemaker by Better Magazine, and receiving the 2020 Nonprofit Person of The Year award from the Evanston Chamber of Commerce. She received the 2018 NAACP (Evanston North Shore chapter) Community Service Award and the 2014 Chicago African Americans in Chicago, Nonprofit Champion of Diversity Award.
Monique is a graduate of University of Arkansas Fayetteville with a B.A in Social Work and University of Texas Austin with a M.S. in Social Work. She is a charter member of the Magnificent Mile chapter of Jack & Jill of America, serving as the chapter’s inaugural foundation chairperson and current parliamentarian. She has been a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. since 1997, currently with the Chicago Metropolitan Alumnae Chapter. She enjoys running, reading, golfing, and showing appreciation for life with her husband- Drennon, daughter-Brielle, and two doggies -Ollie & Piper, on the far southwest side of her hometown, Chicago.