Ariel Grace

Managing Director, Development, Communications, & Operations
agrace@readahead.org

Ariel Grace is a non-profit professional with over a decade of experience in fundraising, program management, and leading people and projects. Ariel fell in love with learning early, and this passion for education—combined with a commitment to service and social justice—has been the through line of her academic and professional experience.

As Managing Director, Ariel develops Read Ahead’s fundraising and external communications strategies, and collaborates with the Executive Director, Board of Directors, and staff to ensure that Read Ahead has the resources it needs to implement and grow its reading-based mentoring program in New York City public schools. She also oversees Read Ahead’s newly formed Operations team, working to build systems and processes to help the staff team work effectively.

Prior to joining Read Ahead, Ariel gained valuable fundraising, grant management, and program experience at nationally-recognized organizations including City Year and Jumpstart. Ariel began her career as a researcher, studying how infants and young children learn and think about the world around them.

Ariel is a member of the Citizens’ Committee for Children’s Advocacy Council and a long-time volunteer with New York Cares. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Oberlin College, and a Master’s degree in Cognitive Psychology from Northwestern University.