Mark Murray
Chief Operating Officer
Mark Murray (he/him/his) is chief operating officer of the Field Foundation of Illinois, where he is responsible for managing operations and planning to support the work of the Foundation and its grantees within Chicago’s communities, civic spaces, and cultural organizations. Annually, the Foundation, along with its strategic funding partners, distributes more than $6.5 million in grants to organizations working to address systemic issues in Chicago’s divested communities.
Over his 20-year career with the Field Foundation, Mark has held numerous leadership roles and has worked on issues ranging from establishing community schools and violence prevention programs to expanding fair and unbiased community journalism and media outlets.
Prior to his current role, Mark was the Field Foundation’s vice president of programs and administration. In 2020, he managed the Foundation’s relocation to Impact House, an innovation-focused philanthropy center in Chicago dedicated to serving and supporting foundations, grant makers and impact investors committed to social change. Post-pandemic, Mark has been a leader in the reactivation of Impact House programming, internally and externally.
Before joining the Field Foundation, Mark held multiple roles at the Illinois Arts Council, where he worked to expand the connection between art and community throughout Illinois.
In addition to Mark’s career in philanthropy, he is an artist and has exhibited his work in Chicago, New York, and Philadelphia. He is also an award-winning educator and academic advisor. At DePaul University, he taught courses in nonprofit career development, art, and communications for nearly 20 years. In 2016, he was awarded a U.S. patent for a safety device.
Mark holds degrees from the University of Pennsylvania (MFA), DePaul University (MA), and the University of Dayton (BA). Since 2018, Mark has been a Leadership Greater Chicago Fellow.
On a personal note, Mark likes to cook, draw, swim, coach basketball, throw a football, and watch barbequing videos on YouTube. He lives in an old (some say haunted) house with his wife, two sons, and a rescue dog named Bernie.
Email: mmurray@fieldfoundation.org
