Cindy Schaefer-Padilla spent fourteen years as a social worker working in the types of not-for-profit organizations that she will be assisting in Cook County. She values a strong not-for-profit community and understands the challenges today's organizations face to build service capacity and demonstrate accountability to financial sponsors, clients, and the broader community.
As a social worker, she delivered direct service, assessed community and client needs, recruited and trained volunteers, wrote grants, engaged in strategic planning, publicized events and activities, launched education efforts, managed processes and evaluated service effectiveness. She worked in culturally diverse and economically challenged communities in Wisconsin, Texas, Virginia, and Illinois, including three years with Catholic Charities–Archdiocese of Chicago.
Schaefer-Padilla has also held management-level organizational development positions in corporate travel, government, manufacturing, and health care organizations.
With Extension, her efforts are focused on training non-profit leaders to improve organizational performance and create cultures that are recognized for excellence. She also consults with non-profit boards and staff, and provides educational programming to improve organizational productivity and effectiveness.
She earned her master's degree in Organizational Development from Loyola University in Chicago.
