Will Burns

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Will Burns

Will Burns has built his career at the intersection of public service, policy, and advocacy, always focusing on improving access to opportunity and equity in communities. He has worked across different sectors—government, nonprofit, and private industry—to implement solutions that strengthen systems and deliver measurable impact. His approach prioritizes collaboration and thoughtful leadership, ensuring long-term progress without seeking public attention or personal recognition, a hallmark of his professional style throughout his journey.

Serving as Executive Vice President of National Advocacy for the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools and Executive Director of the Charter Schools Action Fund, he developed comprehensive strategies for education advocacy. These dual roles gave him a unique platform to influence federal policy, protect funding for charter schools, and create a stronger public understanding of school choice. His work ensured the charter school movement had the resources and political structure to remain resilient in an often-challenging policy environment.

His achievements in education advocacy are notable. He safeguarded $440 million in federal charter school funding over four appropriations cycles and helped shape new federal charter legislation. At the Charter Schools Action Fund, Will Burns, Chicago, directed over $2 million to support candidates and initiatives aligned with school choice. They introduced the first integrated federal political strategy for the sector. Additionally, he created a national training program that enhanced the advocacy capacity of under-resourced states, equipping local leaders with advanced messaging and campaign tools.

Before his focus on education, he led government partnerships for a micromobility company under Ford Smart Mobility, where he secured long-term operating rights in more than 30 municipalities, including New York, Boston, and Washington, D.C. By collaborating with municipal leaders, Burns helped develop model ordinances supporting equitable and environmentally friendly dockless mobility systems. This experience highlighted his ability to combine innovative technology with thoughtful public policy, building transportation systems supporting growth and sustainability.

His political career began with elected office. Representing Illinois’s 26th District in the state legislature, he sponsored tenant protections for foreclosed properties, co-sponsored the Civil Union Act, and worked on welfare reform initiatives for survivors of domestic violence. Later, as alderman of Chicago’s 4th Ward, he advanced post-recession redevelopment, co-authored Chicago’s first minimum wage ordinance, and negotiated affordable housing agreements. He also transformed a closed high school into an open-enrollment arts academy, preserving neighborhood identity while expanding educational opportunities.

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