Cherie Collins Sims, PhD
Fairfax,VA
Summary
C-suite executive, family scholar, and clinician committed to advancing family well-being at scale. Brings a proven ability to integrate academic insight, clinical expertise, and strategic leadership to shape investments, influence policy, and drive innovative, family-centered solutions. Recognized for bridging sectors, mobilizing resources, and repositioning organizations for national visibility and impact. A transformational leader with strong business acumen, emotional intelligence, and strategic agility. Adept at aligning people, purpose, and performance to accelerate organizational growth and impact.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Philanthropy Advisor-Healthy Children & Families
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation-Contract
09.2024 - Current
- Deliver expert advice to program leaders on effective grantmaking approaches, programming concepts, prospective partnerships and knowledge products to improve family well-being through economic inclusion.
- Design innovative, systems-informed grantmaking frameworks that apply a family systems lens to strengthen the care and tax ecosystem, positioning and championing care and caregiving as vital public goods.
- Support portfolio development through strategy formulation, vision alignment, and financial planning, ensuring initiatives centered on care and caregiving are mission-aligned, impact-driven, and fiscally sound
Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer
Prosperity Now
Washington, DC
12.2019 - 05.2024
- Led a comprehensive strategic planning process involving deep engagement across internal and external stakeholders; adopted a new enterprise-wide vision and strategy within six months that strengthened and leveraged the organization's 24,000-member community and transformed its mission, culture, and market position.
- Repositioned the organization as the "go to" national "think-do" tank and intermediary for transformative R&D for the public and private sectors, focused on data-driven, systems-oriented solutions to improve the economic well-being of low-income and BIPOC families and communities. Secured historic six- to eight-figure investments, cultivated new strategic partnerships, and drove a 1,900% increase in sub-granting (up to $5M annually) to support field partners.
- Co-led transformational organizational change in collaboration with the executive team and Board— to ensure alignment and successful strategy execution. Established a cohesive, enterprise-wide operating model with integrated planning, goal-setting, KPIs, and continuous learning.
- Formed and directed a new department, aligning external business functions for greater strategic coordination and systems impact; managed an eight-figure budget; oversaw five teams (policy, research, technical assistance, field building, innovation), a leadership team of VPs/directors, and 42 staff (60% of total organization).
- Raised $40M through innovative philanthropic funding strategies and partnership models to support large-scale initiatives, innovation, research, policy, technical assistance and field building.
- Spearheaded the launch and executive sponsorship of the Black Wealth Data Center, a groundbreaking, first-of-its-kind initiative developed in partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies. Secured an historic anchor partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to drive economic mobility through equitable access to good jobs. These transformative initiatives democratized knowledge and data, enhanced field capacity, and created enduring public goods to inform policy, practice, and investment in wealth-building strategies nationwide.
- Served as Executive Co-Chair of the Prosperity Summit, convening 1,100+ cross-sector leaders in the asset building and racial and economic justice fields.
- Served as Executive Lead for the Board’s Program Committee, driving alignment between programmatic activities, strategic initiatives and governance priorities.
Interim President & CEO
Prosperity Now
Washington, DC
06.2023 - 01.2024
- Designed and implemented a Transition Compass and strategic engagement plan within the first 30 days of CEO transition, ensuring organizational focus, morale, momentum and performance were maintained during a critical leadership change.
- Co-developed and executed phased financial and operational strategies within 90 days, resulting in a stronger financial position through restructured budgeting, updated financial models, and realigned systems to reflect strategic priorities and shifting economic context.
- Managed a $20M organizational budget in collaboration with the executive team, improving both net and operating incomes during the transition period.
- Enhanced internal communications and alignment by improving transparency between the Board of Directors, executive leadership, and staff, strengthening governance and staff trust.
- Sustained and deepened strategic relationships with key investors and philanthropic partners, preserving external confidence and ensuring uninterrupted progress on high-impact initiatives.
Chief of Strategic Initiatives
Metropolitan Economic Development Association
Minneapolis, MN
07.2018 - 12.2019
- Led a comprehensive strategic planning process with inclusive stakeholder engagement that positioned the organization to seize emerging market opportunities; within six months, elevated the organization from a regional to a national leader in serving BIPOC entrepreneurs.
- Managed and guided three multi-million dollar strategic initiatives that expanded access to capital for BIPOC business owners, including the creation of a $75M lending pool and new procurement opportunities with five Fortune 500 companies.
- Spearheaded large-scale ecosystem-strengthening efforts that bolstered advocacy capacity, advanced systems-level change, and improved long-term economic well-being for BIPOC entrepreneurs, families, and communities.
- Served as Executive Lead for the Board’s Program Committee, aligning governance activities with programmatic and strategic priorities.
- Co-led a seamless CEO transition, preserving organizational momentum and reinforcing executive team alignment during a period of change.
Social Impact Leader: Family & Systems Innovation
Independent
01.2007 - 12.2018
- Developed and led large-scale, cross-sector collaborations focused on advocacy, systems change, and resource mobilization to advance the socioeconomic well-being of families and communities of color.
- Provided expert consultation to nonprofit leaders, policymakers, and public administrators on effective policy agendas and innovative health and human service delivery models to improve outcomes for low-income and BIPOC families.
- Designed frameworks and conducted developmental evaluations for family-centered, equity-informed approaches in federal and state programs—supporting basic needs access, economic mobility, and financial stability for caregivers and families.
Philanthropy Advisor-Families & Communities
Independent
08.2008 - 01.2018
- Developed strategic partnerships, funding concepts, and knowledge products to advance data-driven, equity-centered policies and investments supporting families and communities.
- Influenced the adoption of a family systems lens in philanthropy, resulting in narrative shifts and increased national, regional, and local investments focused on family well-being.
- Advised program officers on the design and execution of large-scale grantmaking initiatives across field building, collective impact, policy advocacy, and leadership development.
- Provided technical assistance and liaised between funders and grantees, ensuring alignment, learning, and shared accountability.
- Convened hundreds of stakeholders—including policymakers, scholars, grassroots organizers, and philanthropic leaders—for collaborative strategy development and collective impact.
Education
Ph.D. - Family Social Science
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN01.2013
Post Masters Fellowship Social Work - Family Therapy
Karl Menninger School of Psychiatry
Topeka08.2000
Master of Science - Social Work
The University of Tennessee - Knoxville
Knoxville, TN05.1999
Bachelor of Arts - Social Work
LeMoyne Owen College
Memphis, TN05.1997
Skills
- Executive Leadership & Organizational Stewardship
- Organizational & Change Management
- Strategic Thinking, Positioning, & Agility
- Strategic Planning & Execution
- Partnership Building & Cross-Sector Collaboration
- Stakeholder Engagement & Field Building
- Resource Mobilization & Deployment
- Revenue Generation & Philanthropic Strategy
- Policy Influence & Narrative Change
- Program Innovation, Development, Scaling & Impact
Timeline
Philanthropy Advisor-Healthy Children & Families
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation-Contract
09.2024 - Current
Interim President & CEO
Prosperity Now
06.2023 - 01.2024
Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer
Prosperity Now
12.2019 - 05.2024
Chief of Strategic Initiatives
Metropolitan Economic Development Association
07.2018 - 12.2019
Philanthropy Advisor-Families & Communities
Independent
08.2008 - 01.2018
Social Impact Leader: Family & Systems Innovation
Independent
01.2007 - 12.2018
Ph.D. - Family Social Science
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Post Masters Fellowship Social Work - Family Therapy
Karl Menninger School of Psychiatry
Master of Science - Social Work
The University of Tennessee - Knoxville
Bachelor of Arts - Social Work
LeMoyne Owen College