Élysse M. Chay

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Élysse M. Chay

Public Allies Milwaukee 2001-2002

I completed Public Allies after graduating from college, then completed the Trinity Fellowship (for AmeriCorps and Peace Corps alums) at Marquette University. I ran for office and worked with several nonprofit organizations. From 2009 to 2012, I was a program manager with Public Allies Milwaukee, then got promoted several times at a few nonprofit organizations, including an organization that subgrants federal and state funds to local nonprofit orgs. In 2019, I was hired as a consultant for Public Allies National Office to complete 400 history checks. PANO then hired me as the Director of Systems, where I built sustainable systems to increase compliance with federal requirements. I managed $12+ million worth of AmeriCorps grants until July 7, 2022. I now work at Serve Wisconsin, a state commission that regrants federal AmeriCorps dollars to organizations in Wisconsin. Public Allies and its core values are integral parts of my identity in both my personal and professional lives.

Tell us about your leadership?

After working for several nonprofit organizations of all sizes and types, I have built a career and a network centered on the Public Allies core values. I’ve become known for leading by example, asking tough questions—even when it’s unpopular—and improving the quality of programming delivered by subgrantees. I have a reputation for fair and principled approaches to systemic problems, and the care I feel for my colleagues is unquestioned.

Which Public Allies core value resonates with you the most and why?

Integrity. None of the PA core values is a given in the nonprofit world, but I’ve found integrity to be one of the most rare. There are a multitude of strings attached to most kinds of funding for nonprofit organizations, and many people approach leadership as a game, similar to what I see in the for-profit sector. Leaders of integrity stand out among their peers, and I love that those leaders of integrity are disproportionately PA Alumni.

Anything else you'd like to share?

There’s a lot the board still doesn’t know about how antithetical to PA core values its leadership has been for many years. I have a unique perspective on the operations and direction of PA from which that the board would benefit greatly.

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