Jaclyn Jackson

Jaclyn Jackson joined National Equity Fund in 2020 and is the Chief Administrative Officer. In her role, Jackson leads talent development, culture, strategic planning, and marketing & communications in support of NEF’s mission to deliver innovative, collaborative financial solutions to expand the creation and preservation of affordable housing. Jackson’s 12 years of talent development and strategic planning experience provide her with the tools to work closely with NEF’s executive leadership team and staff of 180+ employees. Additionally, Jackson’s expertise in risk management, DEI, social impact, and ESG has helped her transform organizations and boards in which she is a member.

Before joining NEF, Jackson served as Vice President of Human Resources for the Helping Hand Center, a 300-person organization serving children and adults with disabilities in the south suburbs of Chicago. There, she developed strategic plans related to the organization’s core mission, values, culture, succession planning, headcount management, compliance, and financial accountability. Jackson also oversaw the Marketing and Information Technology departments, which resulted in increased effectiveness and efficiencies for programming. Additionally, in her role on the executive team, she developed the board governance practices and processes.

Earlier in her career, Jackson was Assistant Director of Human Resources at SOS Children’s Villages Illinois, which serves foster children in the Chicago area. She worked to support corporate clients at the National Able Network, helping companies determine and fulfill their staffing needs.

Jackson obtained her MBA, master’s degree in human resources, and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from DeVry University’s Keller School of Management. Jackson recently completed the Advance Management Program at Harvard Executive Business School. She also completed the Women on Boards: Succeeding as a Corporate Director program through the Harvard Executive Business School and was named a Leadership Greater Chicago Fellow in 2023. Jackson’s Board of Director experience includes NHRMA Mutual Insurance Company (Governance & Risk Management), How Women Lead (Chicago Executive Board), and SOS Children’s Villages IL (Fundraising & Risk Management).

AC24 Session: Hiring and Retaining Top Industry Talent