Biography

Chara Fisher Jackson is an integral part of the Cincinnati community. Since she moved to Cincinnati from Atlanta, she has served as executive director and interim President & CEO of a mid-size nonprofit to her current role as Executive Director & CEO of Cincinnati Preschool Promise, managing multimillion-dollar budgets in each organization. Her legal skills, strategic thinking, advocacy, and advances in civil rights and equity are a reflection of her deeply personal mission to improve her community and innovate early childhood education. 

Over 240 Providers and 12,000 children have benefitted from the work of Cincinnati Preschool Promise under her tutelage with the support of ten skilled professional staff members. Chara fully understands the pitfalls facing undereducated youth. From her work in Atlanta, she has vast experience as a lobbyist and litigator of complex civil rights issues. She has led advocacy campaigns and litigation on voting rights, the school to prison pipeline, and religious freedom issues. 

She embraces the vision of the Cincinnati Preschool Promise and knows the importance of engaging children early in their educational journey to prepare them to successfully navigate issues which may confront them later in life. 

Since 2019, she has led Cincinnati Preschool Promise's mission: "to ensure equitable access to high-quality preschool so that every Cincinnati child is prepared for kindergarten.” Chara's goal is to make sure every child has a chance to thrive by supporting the early childhood education ecosystem. Her interests and influence take her beyond traditional boundaries, empowering her to influence and encourage broader involvement in supporting the youngest learners in Cincinnati, a role she takes on with great enthusiasm and determination. She currently serves on the board of 5 community-based non-profit organizations and is an active member of SGI-USA, a global community-based network that practices the humanistic philosophy of Nichiren Buddhism. In 2024, she was recognized by the YWCA of Greater Cincinnati as a Career Woman of Achievement. 

Chara Fisher Jackson: Candidate Statement 1
Chara Fisher Jackson: Candidate Statement 2

Briefly describe your relevant experience in governance and your understanding of fiduciary duties and fiscal responsibilities. How have you applied these principles in previous positions or organizations, and how do you plan to contribute to the effectiveness and financial stewardship of our Board? 

Over the past 25 years, I have served on more than 20 boards as Trustee, Advisory Member, or Committee Member. This extensive experience has deepened my understanding of governance responsibilities within nonprofit and educational organizations. Each year, I participate in learning opportunities on best practices for nonprofit governance, focusing on legal compliance, fiduciary responsibilities, and strategic planning. As a Board Member, I have a duty to be actively engaged in advancing the best interests of the organization. This includes attending and participating in meetings, providing appropriate policy oversight, and supporting executive leadership. 

I have fulfilled these duties as a Board Member for organizations ranging from three to 65 board members with annual budgets of $200,000 to $40M. As an executive nonprofit leader, I have also guided others in fulfilling governance responsibilities. On the NAEYC board, I will contribute to its effectiveness by fostering dialogue, asking thoughtful questions, building consensus, and keeping the mission of supporting the early childhood education profession and the community at the forefront. 

To support financial stewardship, I will review all budget reports, financial statements, audits, and fiscal matters related to Board governance responsibilities and make an annual contribution to NAEYC. I am committed to transparency, informed decision-making, and regularly assessing my effectiveness. With decades of experience and a dedication to NAEYC’s Code of Ethics, I will bring strategic leadership to advance the organization’s mission of ensuring high-quality early education for each and every child.