Simone Ward

Simone L. Ward is a Partner at City Fund, where she collaborates with city and state leaders to expand access to high-quality public school options and improve academic outcomes for all students. With more than two decades of experience in advocacy, organizing, and leadership development, Simone brings a deep commitment to equity and systems change.

Before joining City Fund, Simone was the founding Executive Director of GAIN, one of the country’s largest leadership development and talent recruitment initiatives. Under her leadership, GAIN reached over 40,000 members and delivered training and curriculum across 43 states, equipping new leaders with the tools to drive change in their communities. She has also served as a lead facilitator in change management, workshop design, and executive training for nonprofit organizations and advocacy groups nationwide.

Simone’s expertise has held positions at AARP, Black Economic Alliance, Educators for Excellence, the National Women’s Law Center, and the Reflective Democracy Campaign. She has served as a senior advisor to local leaders and state legislators on policy and strategy, with a focus on education and equity issues. A veteran of four presidential and U.S. Senate campaigns, Simone began her career in the Clinton Administration at the White House and brings more than 20 years of experience in adult learning and advocacy.

She holds a Master’s in Leadership from Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business and is a certified Executive Coach through George Washington University. Simone has been featured in CNN, MSNBC, The Boston Globe, and The Atlantic. She continues to mentor rising leaders and advocate for inclusive systems of learning and opportunity.

Originally from Kansas City, she now lives in Houston, Texas, with her daughter, Isabella Dianne.